Micro-investments, such as mural projects, beautify the community and represent the cultural diversity of the neighborhood. Murals make our traveling corridors bright and attractive for our residents, neighbors, and art enthusiasts who visit Hyde Park and support the local businesses. With support from local Aldermanic offices and property owners, collaborates to bring new creative art, culture and vibrancy to the community.
SECC commits financial resources directly from the SJN Neighborhood Beautification Grant and in collaboration with partners like Special Service Area #61 and Chicago Public Arts Group (CPAG) to commission new art and restore historical murals within its five neighborhood footprint.
“There’s a rich history here and artists have painted the walls under the 47th, 53rd, 55thand 57th Street viaducts for more than 60 years,” says George Rumsey.
Revitalize the 53rd & 55th St. Viaducts in Hyde Park
In 2025, the viaducts connecting the east and west side of the business districts were revitalized with art to seamlessly and visually encourage movement. The effort was to create an attraction that acts as an entry point for visitors to experience the viaducts as a “must see” amenity. This revitalization served to improve the safety and well-being of pedestrians, bikers, and vehicular traffic by creating a sense of place for surprising, delightful interactions, welcoming visitors and residents alike to venture through Hyde Park.
“Pioneer Social Work” Mural
On Tuesday, November 19, 2024, the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference (HPKCC) held a modest celebratory event to reveal the repainting of Astrid Fuller’s 1977 “Pioneer Social Work” mural. The west panel of the mural was damaged by fire, but fortunately the art was not completely destroyed and was slated for repair.
A team lead by mural artist Damon Lamar Reed completed the west panel restoration project thanks to HPKCC donors and a Shirley J Newsome Beatification Grant from the South East Chicago Commission.
“Harold’s Parakeets” Mural
In 2021 Nico Berry, a native Chicagoan who attended Kenwood Academy and Ancona Schools, was commissioned for the 53rd Street location to install a mural titled Harold’s Parakeets. Berry has over two decades of experience painting murals. IG: @nicosprayitloud
“My vision was to create a mural that reflects and celebrates the character, history, and diverse population of Hyde Park, the neighborhood where I was born and raised. It features a large portrait of Harold Washington, a number of Monk Parakeets, as well as architectural and natural elements that evoke Hyde Park and the city of Chicago,” said Berry.
“Essence of Growth” Mural
In 2021 emerging artist and native Chicagoan, Izze Ortiz was commissioned for the 55th Street location. Creatively titled Essence of Growth, the mural’s design includes three intergenerational characters at different places in their life. IG: @heyitsizze
“I was thinking a lot about self-love. When you love yourself, you can be in service to others. It’s important that people love each other…” said Ortiz.
“City Under Stone” Mural
In 1967, William Walker (1927-2011) helped launch the public art movement in Chicago when he and colleagues created the “Wall of Respect,” a mural of famous Black heroes and artists across the entire side of a two-story, shuttered tavern at 43rd Street and Langley Avenue.
Most of Walker’s major works are elsewhere in the city, but in 1971, he turned his attention to Hyde Park. After his daughter’s class at Murray Elementary School took a field trip to see the “Wall of Respect,” the students wanted their own wall, so he worked with them on a “Wall of Unity” on a cottage on the school grounds. William “Bill” Walker’s movement in Hyde Park seized on the viaduct walls as a way to reach people.
In 1972, Caryl Yasko, a member of the Chicago Muralists Group co-founded by Walker, painted “Under City Stone” on the north wall of 55th Street.
The mural was restored in August 2015. After 43 Years, the original artist, Caryl Yasko, returned to the Hyde Park viaduct to enliven the historic public art.
“Donny Hathaway” Mural
A mural in Hyde Park features a towering image of Donny Hathaway, the late Chicago-born singer and songwriter who won a Grammy Award with Roberta Flack for their 1972 recording “Where is the Love.”
Richard Wilson’s mural was presented in 2022 as a beautiful art feature on the Small Cheval wall facing Nichols Park and was designed to “pay homage to Donny for the gifts he gave us,” he says.
The painting was also intended to raise awareness about “mental health issues within the Black community, particularly men,” and the “mostly unspoken daily pressures that exist while being a Black man in America and the toll that can take mentally,” Wilson says.
“Home” Mural
In 2022 Chicago Public Art Group (CPAG), in partnership with lululemon, unveiled a 1,200-square-foot mural designed by artist Nikko Washington to celebrate the Hyde Park Community and the one-year anniversary of lululemon opening its Hyde Park store. The mural was installed on a residential building owned by Mac Properties and remains visible from 53rd Street.
“Yes And” Mural
SECC teamed up with artist Rahmaan Statik to paint this incredible 12 x 18 foot mural that sits at the birthplace of improvisation – The Revival at 55th and University Ave! The design features Jeff Gandy, Dev Middleton, Tori Wynn and two kids from youth programs. The mural named “Yes And” is the core philosophy of improvisation. And it feels more and more relevant every day!