New Chicago murals honor Caleb Williams, Stacey King and John Prine
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People stand in front of the Caleb Williams mural in the West Loop. Photo: Justin Kaufmann/Axios
Three new murals have sprung up in Chicago recently, celebrating two legends — and one young star building his legacy in real time.
Why it matters: Chicago has long turned blank walls into tributes to icons.
Caleb Williams
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is getting the star treatment on Halsted Street in the West Loop. The artwork features Williams' now-signature "Iceman" pose made famous during last year's playoffs.
- The mural is presented by the Bears and EA Sports and was created to celebrate Williams' new "Madden NFL 27" video game cover.
What they're saying: "I've been painting in Chicago for over 25 years, all over the city," artist Asend tells Axios. "To do a mural here where everybody can appreciate it from all sides of the city, it means everything to me."
Stacey King
Bulls fans are still reeling from the sudden death of former player and broadcaster Stacey King. In honor of his legacy, artist Darius Dennis has painted a mural on a Logan Square wall dedicated to graffiti art.
- It sits behind a parking lot on Fullerton, just west of Milwaukee.
- The portrait and Bulls logo are next to King's famous catch-phrase about Derrick Rose: "Too Big, Too Strong, Too Fast, Too Good!"
John Prine
The Old Town School of Folk Music has honored the legacy of Chicago folk singer John Prine with a larger-than-life mural next to their building in Lincoln Square.
- The mural was also painted by Darius Dennis, but designed by Prine's friend and musician Jon Langford.
- It was completed last month for the Square Roots Festival, but it will stay to honor the legendary musician who died of COVID-19 complications in 2020.