35th WARD MURAL PROJECTS : 3401 N KIMBALL and 3040 N. SACRAMENTO

INTRODUCTION

The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), in partnership with the Office of Alderman Anthony Quezada, invites professional artists, artist teams, and arts organizations based in Chicago to submit qualifications for two public art commissions:

• Kimball Viaduct, located at 3401 N. Kimball Ave., Chicago
• Sacramento Viaduct, located at 3040 N. Sacramento Ave., Chicago

Selected artists will design and install murals that activate these highly visible viaducts.

Applicants may indicate that they would like to be considered for both sites. However, if selected, an artist or artist team will be chosen as a finalist for only one site. Each site commission will be awarded to a different artist or artist team.

 PUBLIC ART MENU PROGRAM

These projects are part of the City of Chicago Public Art Menu Program, through which DCASE collaborates with Aldermanic offices to commission neighborhood public art projects using discretionary capital funds provided by City wards.

SUMMARY OF THE OPPORTUNITY

The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), in partnership with the 35th Ward, invites professional artists and artist teams to apply for two mural opportunities located at viaducts along Kimball Avenue and Sacramento Avenue on Chicago’s Northwest Side. These mural commissions are funded through the 35th Ward Participatory Budget process and are intended to transform highly visible transportation corridors into vibrant public artworks that reflect the character, history, and identity of the surrounding communities.

Each selected artist or artist team will design and install a site-specific mural on one viaduct wall owned by Union Pacific Railroad. The murals will serve as visual gateways experienced daily by residents, pedestrians, cyclists, commuters, and visitors traveling through the neighborhood.

Artists are encouraged to develop bold and imaginative proposals that thoughtfully respond to the surrounding communities and urban environment. Successful proposals will create visually engaging works that are durable, highly legible from multiple vantage points, and sensitive to the existing site conditions. Given the visibility and scale of the viaducts, artists should consider how color, composition, texture, and detail can activate these transitional public spaces while helping discourage vandalism and graffiti activity through strong visual density and design complexity.

Both sites require significant surface preparation and present unique environmental conditions that artists should carefully consider when developing concepts, materials, and maintenance strategies.

Emerging artists with experience completing large-scale murals are encouraged to apply.

COMMUNITY AND SITE DESCRIPTION

Kimball Avenue Viaduct – East Wall

Approx. 12’H x 134’W

Located near the intersection of Kimball Avenue and Avondale Avenue, the Kimball Viaduct sits within a busy and highly active commercial and transportation corridor that serves as an important connection point between surrounding residential neighborhoods and local businesses. The site experiences constant movement throughout the day from pedestrians, cyclists, commuters, and vehicles traveling through the area.

The mural wall is positioned near a crosswalk leading to Joong Boo Market, a long-standing and beloved destination that draws visitors from across Chicago for its grocery market, food vendors, and cultural presence within the neighborhood. The surrounding area reflects the layered and evolving identity of Avondale and nearby Logan Square, where long-established working-class communities, immigrant populations, artists, and newer residents intersect within a dense urban environment.

The viaduct itself functions as a visual threshold into the neighborhood. The scale and visibility of the wall create an opportunity for a mural that feels energetic, welcoming, and deeply connected to the everyday life of the corridor. Due to the site’s heavy graffiti activity and visible water infiltration, artists are encouraged to develop visually rich and highly detailed concepts that can withstand the intensity of the environment while contributing positively to the public realm.

Sacramento Avenue Viaduct – West Wall

Approx. 12’H x 122’W

The Sacramento Avenue Viaduct is located within a quieter residential section of the neighborhood that blends industrial infrastructure with nearby homes, local businesses, and community spaces. Compared to the Kimball location, the Sacramento site has a calmer and more neighborhood-oriented atmosphere, with slower pedestrian activity and a more intimate streetscape character.

The viaduct is situated near existing murals and creative interventions within the area. The site presents an opportunity to build upon this creative energy while establishing a strong visual landmark that enhances the everyday experience of residents and visitors moving through the neighborhood.

The west wall offers a long, continuous surface visible to both vehicles and pedestrians traveling beneath the viaduct. While the wall requires substantial surface repair due to deteriorating and peeling paint, the location experiences less graffiti activity than the Kimball site, allowing artists greater flexibility in composition and visual pacing. Artists are encouraged to create designs that thoughtfully respond to the surrounding neighborhood while transforming the infrastructure into a memorable and welcoming public space.

 SCHEDULE

* All dates are approximate and are subject to change

BUDGET

Finalists will be paid a $1,000 honorarium to develop proposals.

3401 N KIMBALL: $60,000

3040 N. SACRAMENTO: $50,000

The artwork commission budgets will be inclusive of all costs and fees for the artist to execute the project from design through fabrication, site preparation, and installation.