Evanston Mural Arts Program
Launched in 2017, Art Encounter’s Evanston Mural Arts Program uplifts and transforms Evanston through creative partnerships with local organizations, schools, and business districts. Our approach is responsive and rooted in the act of service to our community. Rather than seeking out walls to paint, we seek out partners to serve. We pair professional artists with community groups to create large-scale public works of art that last for years to come. Visit our Projects, Artists, and Partners page to learn about the artists behind our murals and view photos of each project. Visit our murals in person by checking out our Mural Map. And follow our mural program on instagram for live updates!
You can support our mural program by making a donation or becoming a member of Art Encounter!
Organizations interested in activating a mural should complete our Mural Project Questionnaire.
Artists interested in sharing their work should complete our Artist Interest Form.
We are grateful to Blick Art Materials for their support of Art Encounter’s Mural Program.
Location: Elmwood Avenue and Davis Street
Community Partner: Centrum Evanston
2017
Location: Elmwood Avenue and Davis Street
Community Partner: Centrum Evanston
2017
Location: Central Street Metra underpass at Green Bay Road
Community Partners: Evanston Art Center, Central Street Business Association, Evanston Art Center
2017
Location: Central Street Metra underpass at Green Bay Road
Community Partners: Evanston Art Center, Central Street Business Association, Evanston Art Center
2017
Location: Dempster Street Metra underpass at Sherman Avenue
Community Partners: Main Dempster Mile, Evanston Arts Council
2017
Location: Dempster Street Metra underpass at Sherman Avenue
Community Partners: Main Dempster Mile, Evanston Arts Council
2017
Location: Church Street & Darrow Avenue
Community Partners: Alderman Peter Braithewaite, Evanston Arts Council
2017
Location: Church Street & Darrow Avenue
Community Partners: Alderman Peter Braithewaite, Evanston Arts Council
2017
Location: Foster Street and Jackson Avenue
Community Partners: Alderman Robin Rue Simmons, Evanston Arts Council
2017
Location: Foster Street and Jackson Avenue
Community Partners: Alderman Robin Rue Simmons, Evanston Arts Council
2017
Location: Church Street Metra underpass at Maple Street
Community Partners: Downtown Evanston, Church St Plaza, FD Stonewater, Evanston Rocks, Evanston Arts Council
2018
Location: Church Street Metra underpass at Maple Street
Community Partners: Downtown Evanston, Church St Plaza, FD Stonewater, Evanston Rocks, Evanston Arts Council
2018
Location: Church Street Metra underpass at Maple Street
Community Partners: Downtown Evanston, Church St Plaza, FD Stonewater, Evanston Rocks, Evanston Arts Council
2018
Location: Church Street Metra underpass at Maple Street
Community Partners: Downtown Evanston, Church St Plaza, FD Stonewater, Evanston Rocks, Evanston Arts Council
2018
Location: Alley Gallery exterior wall, 1712 Rear 2 Sherman Avenue
Community Partners: YEA Festival, Evanston Chamber Summerfest, and Streets Alive!
2018
Location: Alley Gallery exterior wall, 1712 Rear 2 Sherman Avenue
Community Partners: YEA Festival, Evanston Chamber Summerfest, and Streets Alive!
2018
Location: Emerson Street Metra underpass at Green Bay Road and Ridge Avenue
Community Partner: Evanston Arts Council
2018
Location: Emerson Street Metra underpass at Green Bay Road and Ridge Avenue
Community Partner: Evanston Arts Council
2018
Location: Lake Street Metra/CTA underpass at Sherman Avenue
Partners: Evanston Girl Scouts, Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago, Evanston Community Foundation, Albion Residential
2018
Location: Lake Street Metra/CTA underpass at Sherman Avenue
Community Partners: Evanston Girl Scouts, Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago, Evanston Community Foundation, Albion Residential
2018
Location: Metra underpass at Elmwood Avenue and Grove Street
Community Partners: Evanston Township High School Fine Arts Department, Teska Associates, Evanston Community Foundation
2019
Location: Metra underpass at Elmwood Avenue and Grove Street
Community Partners: Evanston Township High School Fine Arts Department, Teska Associates, Evanston Community Foundation
2019
Location: 1233 Chicago Avenue
Community Partner: Main Dempster Mile
2019
Location: 1233 Chicago Avenue
Community Partner: Main Dempster Mile
2019
Location: Family Focus, 2100 Dewey Avenue
Community Partners: Family Focus Evanston, YMCA, Kingsway Prep School, Evanston Arts Council
2019
Location: Family Focus, 2100 Dewey Avenue
Community Partners: Family Focus Evanston, YMCA, Kingsway Prep School, Evanston Arts Council
2019
Location: 847 Chicago Avenue
Community Partner: North Shore University Health System
2019
Location: 847 Chicago Avenue
Community Partner: North Shore University Health System
2019
Location: 820 Davis Street
Community Partner: 820 Davis, LLC
2020
Location: 820 Davis Street
Community Partner: 820 Davis, LLC
2020
Location: 908 Seward Street
Community Partner: Ridgeville Park District
2020
Location: 908 Seward Street
Community Partner: Ridgeville Park District
2020
Location: Live mural painting at Evanston’s Juneteenth Event
Community Partners: City of Evanston, Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre
2021
Location: Live mural painting at Evanston’s Juneteenth Event
Community Partners: City of Evanston, Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre
2021
Location: Live mural painting at Evanston’s Juneteenth Event
Community Partners: City of Evanston, Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre
2021
Location: Live mural painting at Evanston’s Juneteenth Event
Community Partners: City of Evanston, Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre
2021
Location: 908 Seward Street
Community Partner: Ridgeville Park District
2021
Location: 908 Seward Street
Community Partner: Ridgeville Park District
2021
Location: 1901 Central Street
Community Partners: Evanston North Shore Bird Club, Central Street Evanston, Evanston Arts Council
2021
Location: 1901 Central Street
Community Partners: Evanston North Shore Bird Club, Central Street Evanston, Evanston Arts Council
2021
Location: Oakton Elementary School, 436 Ridge Avenue
Community Partner: Oakton Elementary School
2021
Location: Oakton Elementary School, 436 Ridge Avenue
Community Partner: Oakton Elementary School
2021
Location: CTA underpass at Washington Street and Chicago Avenue
Community Partner: Main Dempster Mile
2021
Location: CTA underpass at Washington Street and Chicago Avenue
Community Partner: Main Dempster Mile
2021
Location: Trulee Evanston, 1815 Norwood Court
Community Partner: Trulee Evanston
2022
Location: Trulee Evanston, 1815 Norwood Court
Community Partner: Trulee Evanston
2022
Location: Curt’s Café, 2922 Central Street
Community Partners: Curt’s Café, Evanston Arts Council
2022
Location: Curt’s Café, 2922 Central Street
Community Partners: Curt’s Café, Evanston Arts Council
2022
Location: Davis Metra, 909 Davis Street
Community Partner: Downtown Evanston
2022
Location: Davis Metra, 909 Davis Street
Community Partner: Downtown Evanston
2022
Location: Main Street and Custer Avenue
Community Partner: Main Dempster Mile
2022
Location: Main Street and Custer Avenue
Community Partner: Main Dempster Mile
2022
Location: South Boulevard Metra/CTA underpass at Chicago Avenue
Community Partners: Council Member Cecily Fleming, Evanston Arts Council
original 2018, restored with updated design 2023
Location: South Boulevard Metra/CTA underpass at Chicago Avenue
Community Partners: Council Member Cecily Fleming, Evanston Arts Council
original 2018, restored with updated design 2023
Location: Dawes Elementary School, 440 Dodge Avenue
Community Partner: Dawes Elementary School
2023
Location: Dawes Elementary School, 440 Dodge Avenue
Community Partner: Dawes Elementary School
2023
Location: Dawes Elementary School, 440 Dodge Avenue
Community Partner: Dawes Elementary School
2023
Location: Dawes Elementary School, 440 Dodge Avenue
Community Partner: Dawes Elementary School
2023
Location: Church Street Metra underpass at Maple Street
Community Partner: Downtown Evanston
2023
Location: Church Street Metra underpass at Maple Street
Community Partner: Downtown Evanston
2023
Location: Alcott Elementary, 2625 North Orchard Street, Chicago
Community Partner: Alcott Elementary School
2023
Location: Alcott Elementary, 2625 North Orchard Street, Chicago
Community Partner: Alcott Elementary School
2023
Location: Meals on Wheels Northeastern Illinois building, 1723 Simpson Street
Community Partners: Meals on Wheels Northeastern Illinois, Evanston Thrives
2024
Location: Meals on Wheels Northeastern Illinois building, 1723 Simpson Street
Community Partners: Meals on Wheels Northeastern Illinois, Evanston Thrives
2024
Location: 824 Noyes Street
Community Partner: Evanston Thrives
2024
Location: 824 Noyes Street
Community Partners: Union Pacific
2024
Location: 909 Davis Street
Community Partners: 909 Davis, Downtown Evanston, Evanston Thrives
2024
Location: 909 Davis Street
Community Partners: 909 Davis, Downtown Evanston, Evanston Thrives
2024
Location: Clark Street and Benson Avenue
Community Partners: Evanston History Center, Shorefront Legacy Center
2024
Location: Clark Street and Benson Avenue
Community Partners: Evanston History Center, Shorefront Legacy Center
2024
"Making a mural is really just one part of the project—a good project gets the community, the next generation, involved to make it truly theirs. A sense of ownership paves the path for a tighter community, and the beauty that's made together becomes a stepping stone to wonder and curiosity. What more could you ask of a wall?"
-Jason Brown, EMAP Artist
Press
Grand Mural Tour on Chicago’s North Shore
Chicago's North Shore Convention & Visitors Bureau, 2024
Making a splash: Public art educates the community
Evanston RoundTable, 2024
Downtown Mural Gets Updated
Evanston Now, 2023
Summertime is Mural Time in Evanston as Four New Ones Debut
Evanston Roundtable, 2022
New Murals Brighten Up Evanston
Evanston Roundtable, 2022
See the latest result of Tyrue ‘Slang’ Jones’ lifelong obsession with birds in this Evanston mural
Chicago Sun Times, 2021
‘Birds of Concern’ mural coming to Evanston
Evanston Roundtable, 2021
The Big Picture: A Mural Treasure Hunt
Evanston Roundtable, 2020
Couple has been bringing art to Evanston, Rogers Park for 15 years
Chicago Sun Times, 2020
Evanston Mural Arts Program Promotional Video
Youtube, 2018
A New Public Art Initiative is Brightening Evanston’s Streetwalls
Evanston Roundtable, 2017
Visual Art Nonprofit Launches Evanston Mural Arts Program
Daily Northwestern, 2017
For a closer look at our Evanston Mural Arts Program, here is a short video from our 2021 virtual benefit featuring Lea Pinsky and Dustin Harris, program co-founders.