Street art Chicago: prints, photos, murals and books
Chicago has a large and varied scene of murals and graffiti. Painted walls appear across the city, from community murals in residential areas to lettering along rail lines and alleys. Pilsen in particular is known for its many murals, and other neighborhoods have their own walls worth exploring. That variety is why Chicago street art attracts photographers, collectors and visitors alike. Many local artists move between walls, studio work and printmaking, so the same names can turn up on a mural, a gallery canvas and a small run of prints.
What you find in this category
- Chicago street art prints: posters, giclées and screenprints by artists connected to the city, from open runs to small numbered releases.
- Chicago graffiti photos: photographs of walls, trains and alleys, sold as prints, postcards or framed pieces.
- Chicago murals: photos, studies and documentation of large mural paintings in the city's neighborhoods.
- Chicago graffiti: books, zines and memorabilia that record the local graffiti scene and its writers.
Most items in this section of street art Chicago listings are photos, prints and books. They are a good way to follow the scene and to keep a record of walls that may not stay up forever.
What to check before you buy
Start with three questions: who made it, how many copies exist and what condition it is in. A photo of a well-known Chicago wall belongs to the photographer, so it is different from a print released by the painter. Look for a hand signature, clear numbering and details on the medium and size.
- Ask for close-up photos of the signature, any numbering and the back of the work.
- Be careful with anything described as taken from a wall. A street piece removed from a building raises legal and ethical questions, and artists rarely recognize such pieces.
- Terms such as "in the style of" usually mean the work is not by the artist named.
- Check paper items for creases, stains and fading.
The listings come from independent eBay sellers and are not checked by us.
Own a piece of Chicago street art?
If you have a print, painting or photo from the Chicago street art scene and want a first idea of what it could be worth, upload a few photos for a free estimate on StreetArtValue.com. It is a quick starting point before you buy, sell or insure a piece.