By CGN Staff

A new public mural park is coming to Chicago’s West Side. West Edge Arts is scheduled to open in summer 2027 at 3216 W. Ogden Avenue in North Lawndale, offering free admission to an outdoor arts space featuring large-scale murals, sculpture and site-specific installations.

The 25,000-square-foot site will debut with approximately 15 murals, with plans to expand to about 30 over time. Commissions will feature local and international artists, both emerging and established, with a mix of permanent works and rotating installations.

The project’s inaugural work, Bring It With You, is a 50-foot-high illuminated steel pillar featuring a mural designed by Chicago artist Dorian Sylvain in partnership with Chicago Public Art Group. Measuring four feet in diameter, the work draws on textiles, needlework, ceramics and woodwork to reflect the cultural histories of communities that settled in North Lawndale and throughout Chicago.

“My vision for Bring It With You is to demonstrate how beautiful a multicultural tapestry can be when we weave our histories together,” Sylvain said.

Dorian Sylvain working on her mural at the site of West Edge Arts. Photo via Instagram.

Alongside the outdoor artworks, plans call for seasonal landscaping, a flexible performance stage and seating areas. A glass-enclosed space will provide year-round views of the murals and accommodate artmaking, gatherings and other activities.

Public programming is expected to include classes, workshops and professional development for teens and adults interested in arts careers. The venue will also host community activities and be available for private, nonprofit and corporate events. Additional artist commissions, installation dates and programming details will be announced ahead of the opening.

Community involvement has been part of the project’s development. A Community Advisory Committee established in 2025 includes neighborhood residents, artists and civic leaders who have advised on artistic concepts, events and local partnerships. West Edge Arts has also hosted two neighborhood block parties featuring artmaking, live mural painting and performances by West Side groups.

North Lawndale resident and founding committee member Apriel Campbell joined the staff as community engagement specialist in 2026. Chelsea Dawkins serves as senior project lead, and Chicago artist and designer Bob Faust is senior curatorial advisor.

The project’s design team includes Wheeler Kearns Architects, landscape architects Site Design Group and branding studio Span, with Norcon, Inc. serving as general contractor. West Edge Arts is a nonprofit organization supported by individual donors and Vivo Foundation.

For updates, visit westedgearts.org or follow @WestEdgeArts on Instagram.