Welcome to a world where the walls of your apartment can become a canvas for the vibrant, eclectic art scene of Chicago. In a city teeming with creativity and diversity, there’s an incredible array of local artists whose works can transform your living space into a gallery of its own. From paintings to prints that breathe life into your space, here are some of our current favorite artists around the city and where to find more of them. 

Artist Spotlight

Samantha DeCarlo

Credit: Artist Replete

Chicago artist Samantha DeCarlo is no stranger to the brief attention given to artwork, acknowledging that most people form swift opinions within seconds. Her creations serve as a response to these glances, aiming to captivate and engage viewers for longer moments. She pursued a formal education at the American Academy of Art, and post-graduation, teaching art classes led her down an unexpected path when her practice pieces quickly sold out. Inspired by nature, her recent series depicts vivid tapestries of flora and fauna and are available for purchase along with wood prints and skate decks.

Swen Swihart-Decoster

Credit: Project Onward

Swen Swihart-Decoster blends scientific precision with boundless creativity in his art, utilizing unorthodox materials like ink, polymers, and eye shadow to create art that reflects his deep fascination with the natural world. His childhood was filled with his love for nature, encouraged by his father's role as a plant ecologist and his mother's transition to horticultural therapy, and he went on to study at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. His art explores the subjective nature of reality and the limitations of language in expressing sensory experiences, aiming to bridge this gap through art as a medium. 

Adonte Clark

Credit: Artist Replete

An advocate for mental health, Adonte Clark ’s artistic style revolves around hand-painted double exposure creations on canvas, showcasing the intricacies of the subconscious mind. He believes our thoughts, fleeting and often overlooked, play an influential role in our lives, and these expressions of thought are the centerpiece of his work. He explains, " I didn't want to paint just to paint. It was important to me that a story was told within the work. I started off translating my personal thoughts and then took in my surroundings to create more work. I think in life the beauty is in the journey getting there. We don't get to decide what home we come to when we're born. But we do have dreams and ideas of who we want to be as we grow older. And that's what I want to illustrate within my work. "

Jason Farley

Credit: Artist Replete

Funding his education at the American Academy of Art through a four-year military tenure, Jason Farley saw the potential to blend his military discipline with his academic background in oil painting and illustration, charting his course as an independent artist. Each passing year led him deeper into his artistic style until he unearthed techniques that inspired an entirely new collection of work. Since committing to regular art creation in 2016, Farley balanced commissioned work with personal experimentation. Recently, his compositions blend contemporary surrealism with beauty, opulence, and unfiltered human emotion, a culmination of his aspirations. 

Where to Find More Local Art

The Art Institute of Chicago

The Art Institute of Chicago stands as a treasure trove for art enthusiasts seeking remarkable pieces to adorn their homes and discover new artists. Beyond its vast collection of renowned artworks, the museum offers an avenue for art lovers to purchase prints, posters, and various reproductions of their favorite pieces. Visitors can explore an array of prints available in the museum store, allowing them to bring home a masterpiece. 

Galerie F

Located in Chinatown, Galerie F is Chicago's hub for street art, gig posters, art prints, and collectibles. They’re dedicated to offering a platform for emerging, local, and national artists to exhibit their diverse talents, and they also host monthly exhibitions, community drawing events, and actively oversee public and private mural projects throughout Chicago.

Artist Replete 

Artist Replete strives to highlight local artists and curates thought-provoking exhibitions in and out of galleries. With a diverse range of offerings spanning street art, digital design, and art-based literature, they opened their flagship location in downtown Chicago in early 2023. Here, monthly exhibitions feature both local and international talent, with a smaller commission structure supporting independent artists to earn more per transaction, echoing the brand's commitment to innovation and artist empowerment.

Project Onward

Since 2004, Project Onward has provided artists impacted by disabilities with a nurturing studio environment, access to materials, and professional guidance without financial constraints. By facilitating connections with the arts community through exhibitions and selling their work, the organization acts as both a studio and a gallery aiming to challenge stigmas, promote empathy, and emphasize the social and economic value of the artists' creations. Over 60 exceptional artists are currently supported by Project Onward, their work celebrated for its excellence and exhibited globally in private and corporate collections.

To discover m ore artists and organizations like these around the city, visit our blog here .