Queer artist’s murals celebrating LGBTQ life to be installed in Chicago

ABOVE: Sam Kirk (Photo courtesy Sam Kirk’s official Instagram)

CHICAGO |  Murals celebrating LGBTQ life will be coming to Chicago, including to the Magnificent Mile.

The work by Chicago artist Sam Kirk was previously on display in New York City, wrapped around Times Square’s main stage during WorldPride last year. The international event last summer marked the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall riots that helped spark the modern gay rights movement.

The first installation in Chicago will take place Wednesday with others following through July. Another installation will come to the Chicago Cultural Center this month and be on display through September.

The murals depict LGBTQ people of many races in bright multicolored panels.

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Times Square #WorldPrideNYC Art Installation – I’m still feeling all of the good vibes from our celebration of Pride 2019. This month, this year, was truly one for the books. It was magic and I have so much gratitude for the amazing family, friends and team I have had on this ride with me. The next few posts will include some additional images of our Pride Experience that we hadn’t had a chance to share because we were so caught up in the moment. From Chicago to New York, my favorite cities, executed amazing installations and events – I’m so proud to have been part of it. Having my work in TSQ has been on my goals list for a few years. In early May my management team called and gave me the news that this was a possibility in addition to the mural we’d be painting in Manhattan. By early June it was locked in. Even with all the prep work for the files, we couldn’t have imagined the sight or feeling we would experience when seeing our work wrapped around the entire main stage in the center of Times Square. A entire block of LGBTQ+ artwork by moi and a mural I did with @quirklyn for @lgbtbrooklyn. I’ve included some close ups of the work so you could see each panel. There is a plan to make prints of several of these pieces as well. More to come! #timessquare #timessquarenyc #worldpride2019 #worldpride #lgbtq #lgbtqartist #lgbtart #queerart #latinxartist #latinx

A post shared by Sam Kirk (@iamsamkirk) on Jul 6, 2019 at 11:28am PDT

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Wow!! An unexpected visit to Times Square tonight and we came across an entire block wrapped in my work + a piece I completed with my ❤️ @quirklyn! What an amazing pre-parade surprise!! We knew our work was going to be used for the closing ceremony tomorrow, but this was quite a treat! I have to give a major shout out to my management team @nic_six and @entrevousny!! What?!? 🙌🏽🙌🏽 🏳️‍🌈 Thank you for this! Talent and Team work 360! Thank you @nycpride @nyc_pride!! #worldpride2019 #speechless #moretocome #representationmatters #lgbtq #workhardplayhard

A post shared by Sam Kirk (@iamsamkirk) on Jun 30, 2019 at 12:06am PDT

Kirk’s murals are also on display in other parts of Chicago, New York and Michigan.

In 2018, Kirk collaborated with fellow artists Andy Bellomo and Sandra Antongiorgi on the mural “The Love I Vibrate,” which was designed to provide a platform for nonbinary visibility, as well as showcase Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community.

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Chicago is kicking off Pride Month with some fresh new crosswalks! Several are filled with rainbows! And I’m excited to see that the Transgender Flag was included near our* mural “The Love I Vibrate”. It’s a perfect addition for this collaboration with @howardbrownhealth and @chicagodcase. Yay! *Mural features Kiam Marcelo Junio @iamkiam by artist trio @iamsamkirk @andybmix and @santongiorgi Thank you for the 📸 capture @davidjaycollins! Shout out to the team at @pridefestchicago @marketdayschicago and @aldermantunney office for continuing to add more LGBTQIA visibility to the neighborhood! #transflag #transgenderflag #prideflag #pride2019 #pride

A post shared by Sam Kirk (@iamsamkirk) on May 22, 2019 at 4:42am PDT

The Chicago native also created a piece revolving around trans identity that was added to the permanent collection at the National Museum of Mexican Art.

Kirk’s next exhibition, “an intergenerational group exhibition” entitled “LatinXAmerican”, is set to open in September 2021. For more information on Sam Kirk, visit her official website.