Mural park with cafe, classrooms and studios planned for North Lawndale

A nonprofit called West Edge Arts is building a public art campus at 3216 W. Ogden Ave. in North Lawndale, with outdoor gardens, about 30 murals and a building holding a cafe, classrooms and artist studios.^{1, 2} The group announced the project Tuesday and plans to open it in summer 2027.^{1, 2}

The site, on the grounds of a former auto parts shop, covers about half an acre, WBEZ reported.¹ Block Club Chicago described it as a 25,000-square-foot campus.² Its enclosed building is 6,000 square feet, both outlets reported, and the plans include a performance stage.^{1, 2} Construction is underway.²

The murals

West Edge Arts aims to have at least 15 murals finished by opening day and about 15 more afterward, according to WBEZ.¹ The first piece is “Bring It With You,” a cylindrical mural about 50 feet tall by Chicago artist Dorian Sylvain.^{1, 2}

Bob Faust, a Chicago artist, is curating the collection.^{1, 2} The murals will not be permanent, he told WBEZ: “So murals will have an endpoint, and new murals will come on top.”¹ He described the campus to Block Club as “a garden of beautiful adjacencies.”² The group is looking for artists to take part in the mural gallery, Block Club reported.²

Who is behind it

Chelsea Dawkins, the project’s senior lead, said the work “is about making art more accessible, celebrating creativity and bringing people together.”¹ “Our decision to build here was very intentional,” she told WBEZ.¹ “We want this to be a destination where a family can spend the afternoon exploring art,” she told Block Club.²

Dawkins called the campus a “multi-million-dollar construction project” but gave no total, WBEZ reported.¹ She said it is fully funded, by individual donors and the suburban Vivo Foundation, which was founded by former Medline Industries president Andy Mills and his wife, Nancy.¹

A community advisory group that includes North Lawndale residents has worked on the plans.^{1, 2} Block Club reported that the committee formed last year and is partly led by Monique Scott, the 24th Ward alderperson.² “West Edge Arts represents hope, unity, and pride for North Lawndale,” Scott said in a statement.²

Besides the gallery, the campus will offer career training for teens and young adults and public classes and workshops, according to Block Club.²