Local Artist's Mural Honors Día de los Muertos, Celebrated This Weekend in Chicago.
The vibrant mural created by artist Gape One on the west-facing wall of a commercial strip mall building at West 63rd Street and South Knox Avenue is now a striking presence in the Clearing neighborhood. The artwork honors one of Gape One's favorite holidays: Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.
This year, as immigration raids continue to affect Chicagoans with Latino heritage, Día de los Muertos festivities might take on an even greater significance for many. According to Gonzalez, an Archer Heights native and artist, the holiday is “a meaningful tradition” in the Latino culture and community that he cherishes.
Eight students from the nearby Latino Organization of the Southwest Youth Center contributed to the painting process, which was completed entirely with spray paint over two weeks. The colorful mural features a traditional Día de los Muertos altar, decorated with an assortment of vibrant flowers, La Catrina skeletons wearing elaborate hats, and skulls adorned with intricate vines.
Nearby, a trio of musicians strum their instruments on the far right side of the mural, adding to the lively atmosphere that pervades this artwork. Orange marigolds are arranged around the figures, while bright, multicolored prayer flags seem to flutter above them, giving off an ethereal glow from the backdrop of glowing candles.
Gape One has made his mark in Chicago's immigrant community with his previous murals. In 2023, he painted a mural honoring immigrants at West 21st Street and South Ashland Avenue in Pilsen. The artwork featured an American flag symbolizing freedom and opportunity for all people who come to America.
Since then, the artist has shifted his focus from large-scale street art to tattooing, citing it as a creative outlet that is less physically demanding than murals. As he puts it: "I sit my butt down and draw... It's just as gratifying."
The vibrant mural created by artist Gape One on the west-facing wall of a commercial strip mall building at West 63rd Street and South Knox Avenue is now a striking presence in the Clearing neighborhood. The artwork honors one of Gape One's favorite holidays: Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.
This year, as immigration raids continue to affect Chicagoans with Latino heritage, Día de los Muertos festivities might take on an even greater significance for many. According to Gonzalez, an Archer Heights native and artist, the holiday is “a meaningful tradition” in the Latino culture and community that he cherishes.
Eight students from the nearby Latino Organization of the Southwest Youth Center contributed to the painting process, which was completed entirely with spray paint over two weeks. The colorful mural features a traditional Día de los Muertos altar, decorated with an assortment of vibrant flowers, La Catrina skeletons wearing elaborate hats, and skulls adorned with intricate vines.
Nearby, a trio of musicians strum their instruments on the far right side of the mural, adding to the lively atmosphere that pervades this artwork. Orange marigolds are arranged around the figures, while bright, multicolored prayer flags seem to flutter above them, giving off an ethereal glow from the backdrop of glowing candles.
Gape One has made his mark in Chicago's immigrant community with his previous murals. In 2023, he painted a mural honoring immigrants at West 21st Street and South Ashland Avenue in Pilsen. The artwork featured an American flag symbolizing freedom and opportunity for all people who come to America.
Since then, the artist has shifted his focus from large-scale street art to tattooing, citing it as a creative outlet that is less physically demanding than murals. As he puts it: "I sit my butt down and draw... It's just as gratifying."
. Día de los Muertos is such an important holiday for many people, especially with what's been going on with immigration raids in Chicago lately. It's awesome that Gape One has used his art to make a statement about freedom and opportunity for everyone who comes to America 
. I'd love to see more public art like this around the city that celebrates diversity and community!
its like the artwork came alive! u know how much we're learning about different cultures in school lately? like last week in our geography class we had a guest speaker from mexico who shared so many cool traditions... well this mural feels really connected to that. i love how the kids from the latino organization got to help create it too, its such an awesome way for us to give back to the community 
. Día de los Muertos is such a beautiful holiday and it's awesome that gape one is using his art to celebrate it 
. i also love how the artist is exploring different mediums now, tattooing seems like a great way for him to express himself without having to deal with the physicality of murals 
. can't wait to check out more of his work! 
. It's great that Gape One is using his art to honor this tradition and celebrate the diversity of Chicago's immigrant community 
.
And I'm glad to see local students getting involved in the painting process 
. As for Gape One's focus on tattooing now, I think that's a great way for him to express himself creatively without having to deal with the physical demands of large-scale street art 
I'm thinking about when we used to have these awesome community projects in school where everyone came together to create something amazing, like a huge mural or a public art installation. Nowadays it seems like they're all about individual artists making their own statements, but this one's special 'cause it's literally bringing the community together 
. I mean, having those 8 students from the youth center contribute to the painting process is just incredible 
.
. its like, a bunch of colorful skulls & flowers on a wall 
but hey at least its not boring right? 
and yeah, imo Gape One's muralz are pretty fire 
, especially w/ all the Latino org involvement 
. but whats up w/ people makin murals 2 honor immigrants as if it wasnt already clear that they r here 4 freedom & opportunity 
. cant we just leave ppl 2 their own devices? 
seriously though, where's the link between this art and some actual social justice cause? it feels like just another commercialized holiday celebration that doesn't really address the underlying issues. 
the way they incorporated traditional elements like la catrina skeletons and marigolds is sick 
. Can't we just get some new avatars or a refresh of the profile page already? It feels like they're still stuck in the 2000s 
The way the mural has come together with its altars, flowers, La Catrina skeletons, and glowing candles... it's like stepping into a Mexican Fiesta! 
. I mean, think about it - Día de los Muertos, which is all about honoring the dead, now being celebrated in a neighborhood where immigrants are facing these huge raids? It's like they're trying to tell us something, you know? Like, we gotta acknowledge our heritage and community, but also, like, be aware of the struggles that come with it 
. Maybe it's like, a message from the community to the city? Or maybe it's something more? Idk, but I'm definitely gonna keep an eye on this one 
.
