The Radiance of Being is the latest artwork to join Chicago’s gorgeous public art collection.
The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) in collaboration with the Department of Assets, Information, and Services (AIS) has recently unveiled a new series of murals on the Riverwalk just west of Michigan Avenue adding to an already impressive range of remarkable street art around Chicago.
The Radiance of Being by Chicago-based artist Kate Lynn Lewis is currently on display at the Community Marketplace to celebrate a century of Art Deco architecture. The series pay homage to famous Art Deco buildings throughout Chicago, including the Adler Planetarium, the Chicago Motor Club, the Palmolive Building, the Palmer House and the St. Jane. The 180-feet tall murals spread out across two levels, taking Lewis and her all-female crew over six weeks to finish it.
Later this summer, The People in Your Neighborhood, a series of portraits by local street artist Dont Fret, will also be on display at the Confluence near Lake Street. The collection pays tribute to hard-working Chicagoans like Manni’s Deli chef Gino Gambarota, each portrayed with Fret’s “inimitable documentarian flair.”
Both series join an evergrowing collection of stunning public art that ranges all the way from pothole murals to boarded-up stores. The Radiance of Being and The People In Your Neighborhood will be on display at “passive recreation areas” along the Riverwalk, meaning you can go see them whenever the Riverwalk is open regardless of the access limitations that were imposed when the Riverwalk opened earlier last month.
[featured image: @chicagodcase, Instagram]