When you wander the Chicago streets, one thing there is no shortage of is street art—alley walls and sides of buildings are covered in complex murals.
Yet the creators painting these brick murals share a strange logistical headache: securing their primary medium. While Illinois gave birth to the aerosol can, purchasing a single tin within city limits remains strictly outlawed.
The origin of spray paint dates back to 1949, when hardware store owner Ed Seymour sought a way to coat radiators with aluminum paint.
While tinkering in his shop in Sycamore, Illinois, he pioneered a pressurized delivery method that led to the modern spray can—transforming industrial coating and sparking a global art movement. However, decades later, Chicago lawmakers would ultimately turn against this.
The rule that forces muralists to leave the city for supplies
By 1992, city officials became increasingly concerned about the rising number of graffiti incidents. To address this issue, lawmakers passed a sweeping ordinance that prohibited the sale of spray paint throughout Chicago.
During the legislative push, Alderman Edward Burke famously declared, “Spray paint cans have become weapons of terror.” As a result, neighborhood hardware stores are still unable to stock this product.
Residents looking to tackle weekend crafts or muralists aiming to create art often face the frustrating reality at the checkout counter: they must leave the city to purchase these basic supplies.
