Summer is mural season. Many of the street artists that Galerie F works with are currently traveling all over the world painting these beloved large scale pieces. While murals are becoming a hot commodity for real estate agents (many are hiring street artists to paint their buildings to raise property values), it can still be hard for artists to find walls. Galerie F helps connect artists to potential clients asking for commissions and this summer is no different.
This week two artists, Andrew Ghrist and Migue, are painting murals right around the corner from Galerie F. Ghrist is an exclusive artist at Galerie F, featured in our current show “Street Level,” and Migue is currently visiting the city from Puerto Rico. Below is a brief description of what they are working on, some photos, and information about what it’s like to create and negotiate these kinds of works.
Work in Progress Shot of Mural for The Number Project by Andrew Ghrist
The Number Project is a company based in Logan Square that specializes in curating experiences. They have produced events for The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Will Ferrell among others. They are also producing two after-parties for Lollapalooza this year. Ghrist is currently painting a huge, incredibly detailed mural in their offices which already sport two murals by JC Rivera.
Andrew Ghrist working on his mural for The Number Project
JC Rivera and Ghrist recently collaborated to create the extremely popular Flamingo mural in River North, pictured below.
Photo Courtesy of @whiskey.roulette
Migue, an artist originally from Peru but now working in Puerto Rico, met JC Rivera at a Puerto Rican street festival in March that Rivera was participating in. Rivera invited Migue to Chicago to meet the staff of Galerie F and to paint a section of wall on Milwaukee and Medill Avenue. Migue works primarily as a tattoo artist with Juan Salgado in San Juan, but hopes to create more original paintings and murals.
Migue painting a mural on Milwaukee and Medill Avenue
Migue recently hosted a successful solo show at his studio in Puerto Rico and his large scale murals there are also gaining attention. When asked about the difference in experience between painting murals in the United States versus Puerto Rico, he said that rules about where you can paint are not as serious back home. In Puerto Rico he can paint everywhere and doesn’t necessarily need permission. It is much more acceptable to simply claim a wall and paint. In the United States, it is very important to have permission if you are going to be painting in a well known public space and those spaces can be hard to come by. The section of wall that Migue is painting this week in Chicago was secured in part by Galerie F.
Migue painting a mural on Milwaukee and Medill Avenue
Migue enjoys painting these large scale works because it offers the opportunity to travel the world and be in the streets among people who are simply enjoying the city. This summer Migue is travelling to Spain, Belgium, Bolivia, and Virginia. He has already worked with Jesse Smith a tattoo artist in Richmond, Virginia.
Make sure to check out the finished mural by Migue located around the corner from Galerie F on Milwaukee and Medill. If you are lucky you might pass by while he is working!
If you are a business or property owner who is interested in working with an artist on a street art/mural project, please stop by the gallery and let us know what you are thinking! We will keep you updated with more exciting projects throughout the city as the summer mural season continues.
