A vibrant new mural has been unveiled in Chicago's South Loop, featuring whimsical creatures and a pickleball theme. The 10-by-20-foot wall at ChiPickle, 1900 S. Wabash Ave., is the result of collaboration between over a dozen street artists from the CMK Crew and other local talent.
The mural showcases a range of creative interpretations of pickleball, with some characters actively playing the sport while others are simply pickles or part-pickles. Artist Luis Molina, who worked on the project alongside owner Tony Chen, revealed that he had to research pickleball before starting work on the mural. He described the experience as "a whole picnic of people, painting and having fun."
Some of the standout images include Diosa's purple vampire-like creature, Kozmo's cheeseburger-flower with an arm emerging from its bun, and Milt's pickle who broke his racket in favor of salt, lime, and Tajin seasoning. Bird Milk's giant green sports-y pickle character holds up one of his little bird friends while clutching a pickleball.
The mural is positioned just west of South Michigan Avenue and east of Ping Tom Park, making it an eye-catching addition to the neighborhood. According to Chen, who commissioned the artwork, he wanted something that would deter graffiti in the area. The result is a stunning piece of street art that showcases the creativity and talent of Chicago's local artists.
Chen reached out to Molina and his friends after hearing about their previous work together, expressing interest in their services to address a graffiti problem at one of his buildings. The CMK Crew has a reputation for producing high-quality murals, and it seems they've delivered yet again with this fantastic new piece that's quickly become a popular spot for locals and visitors alike.
The mural showcases a range of creative interpretations of pickleball, with some characters actively playing the sport while others are simply pickles or part-pickles. Artist Luis Molina, who worked on the project alongside owner Tony Chen, revealed that he had to research pickleball before starting work on the mural. He described the experience as "a whole picnic of people, painting and having fun."
Some of the standout images include Diosa's purple vampire-like creature, Kozmo's cheeseburger-flower with an arm emerging from its bun, and Milt's pickle who broke his racket in favor of salt, lime, and Tajin seasoning. Bird Milk's giant green sports-y pickle character holds up one of his little bird friends while clutching a pickleball.
The mural is positioned just west of South Michigan Avenue and east of Ping Tom Park, making it an eye-catching addition to the neighborhood. According to Chen, who commissioned the artwork, he wanted something that would deter graffiti in the area. The result is a stunning piece of street art that showcases the creativity and talent of Chicago's local artists.
Chen reached out to Molina and his friends after hearing about their previous work together, expressing interest in their services to address a graffiti problem at one of his buildings. The CMK Crew has a reputation for producing high-quality murals, and it seems they've delivered yet again with this fantastic new piece that's quickly become a popular spot for locals and visitors alike.
I'm lovin' the vibe of this new mural in Chicago! 
Did you know that street art can boost local businesses by 20-30%? 
The CMK Crew's work is totally on point, and it's awesome that they're using their talents to deter graffiti 
. The fact that they worked with over a dozen artists from different backgrounds is like, super inspiring! 
Let me show you some stats... 
. Meanwhile, Chicago's street art scene has grown by 15% since 2018 
. The city's got a total of over 100 public murals, with new ones popping up every year 
. And did you know that Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the US? 
It's projected to hit $1 billion in sales by 2027 
. The CMK Crew's mural is like, totally capturing the pickleball spirit! 
. I love how Diosa's character came out as a purple vampire, like what even 
? And that cheeseburger-flower thing by Kozmo is a work of art in itself 
. I can see why Tony Chen wanted to commission this crew to do something about the graffiti problem – now the area looks way cooler and more vibrant 
i mean, who wouldn't want to see giant pickles and vampires smashing it on a court? 
. and can we talk about the cheeseburger-flower with an arm coming out of its bun? 
bird milk's sports-y pickle character is giving me life 
. it's so awesome that this mural is not only a beautiful piece of art but also a functional way to deter graffiti in the area 
. can't wait to check it out in person and see what other amazing things chicago has to offer! 
. On the other hand, the colors are so vibrant and fun! 
. The artist's research must've been super deep to come up with all those interpretations 
?
. It's not just some art for tourists either - the locals seem to be loving it too 
. Maybe we should see more of these interactive murals popping up around the city? Would be awesome! 
The CMK Crew has definitely outdone themselves with this one, and I'm excited to see what other amazing murals they come up with in the future! 
. i mean, who wouldn't want to see a giant pickle holding a racket? 
.
The artists did an amazing job, it's so unique and fun to look at! I love how they included Diosa's vampire-like creature and Kozmo's cheeseburger-flower - genius! 
. The attention to detail is insane, from Kozmo's cheeseburger-flower to Diosa's vampire-like creature - it's like they brought a whole different world to life! And can you believe Luis Molina had to research pickleball before creating it? That's dedication right there 
!
! It's like a dream come true for art lovers 
I love how the colors pop against the city backdrop 
The best part? It's bringing people together, making everyone smile 
Would love to see more murals like this popping up around the city! 
But for real though, the fact that Tony Chen commissioned this project just to deter graffiti is pretty clever. It's like, you want to attract people to the area and show them some great street art, but also make sure it's not getting ruined by vandals. So yeah, I think it's a win all around...