With Art in the Park just around the corner, I thought it was the perfect time to remind you that Elmhurst isn’t just home to an amazing art museum!
Our streets, parks, and buildings are filled with incredible public art you can enjoy year-round, totally free!
Whether you’re an art lover, looking for a unique way to spend an afternoon, or just want some Instagram-worthy photo ops, this self-guided art crawl will take you through 16 outdoor art pieces scattered around town.
Each one has a story worth sharing at your next dinner party.
So, grab your walking shoes, charge your phone, and let’s explore the artistic side of Elmhurst!
The Route
Stop 1: Phase Three Brewing, 494 Spring Rd.
Phase Three mural
Artist: Mia Larson
What to know: This colorful piece was created by artist Mia Larson, who believes art is a powerful instrument to spread joy, start conversations, and enhance a space and community. It’s become so iconic that Phase Three featured it on their beer can labels! (And yes, you can grab a coffee or a bite here before you start walking.)
Where to stop nearby: You’re already here! Grab a drink or some food at Phase Three Brewing before you head to the next stop!
Stop 2: Elmhurst University
“Be Bold. Be Elmhurst.” mural
Location: Park and Prospect Avenues (facing railroad tracks), north wall of R.A. Faganel Hall
Artists: Rafael Blanco and Andrew Sobol (Elmhurst University art faculty)
Year: 2022
What to know: This massive 200-foot-long, 50-foot-high mural was created for Elmhurst University’s 150th anniversary.
Over 775 students, faculty, and staff voted on four proposed designs, and “Be Bold. Be Elmhurst” won with more than half the votes. The face behind the text is an Elmhurst University student painted by another student, representing diversity and community. You literally cannot miss it!
Niebuhr statue
Location: Elmhurst University campus, Prospect Avenue (in front of the Frick Center)
Artist: Robert Berks
Year: 1997
What to know: This 9-foot bronze statue honors Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971), Elmhurst University alumnus and one of America’s leading 20th-century theologians.
The Serenity Prayer engraved on the base is from Niebuhr. Sculptor Robert Berks also created the famous JFK bust at the Kennedy Center and sculptures of Albert Einstein and Mr. Rogers!
Where to stop nearby: Check out Zodiac Cafe, Elmhurst’s newest coffee shop! They have drinks and food free from artificial coloring and sweeteners, and it’s GORGEOUS inside!
Stop 3: Larch Park (west of The Marke at 100 N. Addison)
Portal sculpture
Artist: Nicole Beck
What to know: This 12-foot O-shaped sculpture made of welded stainless steel and dichroic glass changes color under different lighting conditions!
Chosen by Elmhurst’s Public Arts Commission, it was designed to represent Elmhurst’s interconnected community. The toroid shape represents a “holoflux of information,” consciousness inherent in the structure of the universe. (Yes, really!)
Where to stop nearby: Ella’s Pub is nearby if you need a quick food break! They have amazing Roman-style pizza. I love their Farmhouse pizza (and they have a thick, puffy gluten-free crust)!
Stop 4: Schiller Court (York & Schiller Streets)
Umbrella Sky installation
Artist/Creator: Impact.Plan (Portugal)
Started in Elmhurst: 2023 (updates annually)
What to know: Elmhurst is only the 6th city in the U.S. to host this world-famous installation that’s been in 170+ international locations!
The project was born in Portugal in 2012 and came to Elmhurst after resident Katie Sotor saw it while traveling and brought the idea home. Over 300 colorful umbrellas suspended overhead create Instagram-worthy canopies that update with new colors mid-summer!
There are two other locations, too: North York Stage at 254 N. York Street, and the Cultural Campus at 110 S. Cottage Hill.
Where to stop nearby: You’re in the heart of downtown with tons of amazing options, but I recommend checking out Victory Meat and Seafood’s new location! They have a really nice new patio that’s perfect for warmer weather!
Stop 5: Elmhurst City Hall Courtyard
Millennium Fountain sculpture
Artist: Dan Kainz
Year: 2002
What to know: Selected from seventeen entries by a committee of Elmhurst residents and city employees, this water-sculpture was designed to be interactive and approachable. It’s meant to provide a sensory experience you can touch and walk through!
Where to stop nearby: Head to Francesca’s Amici for dinner or check out Rainbow Cafe just a block away for a quick, diner-style meal!
Stop 6: Elmhurst Post Office
“There Was Vision” mural
Artist: George Melville Smith
Year: 1937-1938
What to know: This New Deal-era mural depicting Elmhurst’s frontier roots was commissioned by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Section of Painting and Sculpture as part of FDR’s program to fund original art for federal buildings. Smith was paid $630 for it in 1937, and it still hangs in the post office lobby today, nearly 90 years later!
And here’s the kicker: Smith studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and exhibited alongside Grant Wood, the artist who created “American Gothic,” one of the most famous artworks of all time!
Where to stop nearby: Two Brothers is perfect for dinner after this stop! They serve authentic Italian eats in a relaxed setting.
Stop 7: Adelaide Parking Deck
“Adelaide, The Keeper of the Garden” mural
Artist: Melina Scotte (Elmhurst resident)
Year: 2025
What to know: This mural was created by Elmhurst resident Melina Scotte, who has deep ties to the community.
The piece features a serene woman surrounded by blooming flowers that extend across the parking garage pillars, turning a utilitarian structure into a beautiful downtown centerpiece.
Where to stop nearby: Primos Locos has a great patio where you can hang out and enjoy really great food, or check out Pints for a cute beer garden and more of a bar vibe.
Stop 8: Elmhurst Public Library (south patio)
“Once Upon a Time” sculpture
Artist: Frank Eliscu
Year: 1989
What to know: This bronze sculpture showing children reading together was commissioned and purchased with money from a bequest to Elmhurst Public Library from Edith VanDorn Gavin.
But here’s the coolest part: sculptor Frank Eliscu created the Heisman Memorial Football Trophy in 1935 when he was only 23 years old! He also created the five-story “Falling Books” sculpture at the Library of Congress and designed the inaugural medals for President Ford and VP Rockefeller. From the Heisman to a library sculpture in Elmhurst. That’s a pretty incredible range!
Where to stop nearby: There’s a Brewpoint inside the library, which is perfect for a quick coffee break!
Final Stop: Elmhurst Art Museum
I saved the best for last! This cluster of sculptures around the Elmhurst Art Museum and Wilder Park gives you 7+ pieces in one beautiful area!
SkyCube sculpture
Location: In the museum courtyard
Artist: David Wallace Haskins
What to know: This site-specific sculpture and engineering marvel brings the sky down to ground level in real-time. It’s an interactive piece that plays with light, reflection, and your perspective. You’ll want to walk around it from every angle.
Note: You do need to pay for admission to the museum in order to see this, but you can see it from the courtyard.
Bird City Saint mural
Location: On the building, facing the courtyard
Artist: Joseph “Sentrock” Perez
What to know: Bird City Saint is the signature character of self-taught street artist Sentrock, a figure wearing a bird mask that represents personal expression, strength, and hope. Sentrock views street art as a gesture of compassion for his community, and his work is deeply influenced by his Mexican-American background and Chicago upbringing.
Curl sculpture
Location: On the northeast side of the museum, in front of the McCormick house
Artist: Tom Waldron
For nearly 30 years, Tom Waldron has been hand fabricating elegant, seamless forms out of steel. His uncompromising craftsmanship and unique fluid volumetric vocabulary has made him one of the region’s most well-known and respected sculptors.
As Waldron says about his work: “The sculptures are in some way incomplete until they are installed and start to alter their surroundings. They begin to carve the space and light of the installation area into different shapes and tones.” Watch how this sculpture plays with the museum’s architecture. It’s designed to interact with its environment!
Figure in the Garden sculpture
Location: On the east side of the building, by Cottage Hill Ave.
Artist: Abbott Pattison
What to know: Abbott Pattison was an internationally known sculptor who worked in cast bronze, welded brass, and carved marble. His work was inspired by classical Greek and Etruscan forms, and he was a youthful recipient of both the Logan and Eisendrath awards. This sculpture is located just below “You Are Beautiful.”
You Are Beautiful mural
Artist: Matthew Hoffman
Location: On the east side of the building, by Cottage Hill Ave.
What to know: Just above “Figure in the Garden” is Chicago-based artist Matthew Hoffman’s “You Are Beautiful” project.
This project has spread across the globe with over 10 million stickers and hundreds of large-scale public art installations since 2002. The Elmhurst Art Museum piece is one of 30+ outdoor installations currently in Chicagoland, all spreading positivity and encouraging kindness.
Art from the Heart sculpture
Location: On the south lawn of the museum
Artist: John Nester
What to know: These four pillars are the result of the 1997 Clay Stomp, a shared community activity commemorating the opening of the Elmhurst Art Museum.
The 210 ceramic tiles were made by Elmhurst residents, guided and cared for by local artists. It’s literally art created by the community, for the community!
Sistine Touch
Location: On the south lawn of the museum
Artist: Bob Emser
What to know: Bob Emser was born in 1954 during the height of the U.S. housing boom. Influenced by constant house construction and his father (a mechanical engineer), his work deals with internal structure and how it becomes visible on the exterior. His body of work references the pioneering spirit of aviation and nautical history.
Where to stop nearby: Celebrate the end of your art crawl at Pazzi di Pizza (an Elmhurst favorite!) or if it’s earlier in the day, check out Stray Hen for a quick brunch.
Bonus Stop: The Willis Tower Globe
Willis Tower Globe
Location: 832 Industrial Drive (Christopher Glass & Aluminum)
Artist: Poblocki Sign Company
What to know: Ok, so this one’s a bit off the beaten path, but if you want to see a cool piece of Chicago history, this one’s worth the stop!
This 25-foot, 16,000-pound stainless steel world globe once stood in the north plaza of Chicago’s Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower)! When London-based Willis Group Holdings acquired naming rights in 2009, they commissioned this massive globe, which was built using 1,450 feet of piping (equivalent to the height of Willis Tower itself) and over 8 miles of welding wire.
The continents were vacuum-formed, laser-cut, and shaped to the arc of the globe. The entire installation in Chicago was done overnight between 8pm and 6am over the course of a week. After serving as a downtown Chicago landmark for 10 years, the globe was gifted to Christopher Glass & Aluminum in 2017 and now calls Elmhurst home!
Art Crawl Tips
Best time to go: Obviously during Art in the Park (May 2-3) to really feel the art vibe, but spring through fall when the weather’s nice is ideal. That said, the beauty of public art is you can view it any time (rain or shine, summer or winter) and it’s totally free!
How long it takes: Most people will probably drive between stops since they’re spread across town. You could hit all 9 stops in an afternoon, or break it up over a few weekends and really take your time at each location. Park, explore the art, grab a bite or drink at one of my recommendations I included at the end of each section, and then head to the next spot!
Bring: Your phone for photos (these pieces are seriously Instagram-worthy), and an appetite! I’ve given you plenty of excuses to support local Elmhurst businesses along the way!
Bonus: End at the Elmhurst Art Museum where you’ve got 7 pieces clustered together! It’s perfect timing to pop inside and see what’s on exhibit! Plus, you’re right by Wilder Park if you want to relax and enjoy the scenery.
Whether you’re gearing up for Art in the Park or just looking for a new way to experience Elmhurst, this art crawl shows off the creative, community-focused spirit of our town. Every piece tells a story – from New Deal murals to student-voted public art to global art projects that chose Elmhurst as their home.
Happy art crawling! 🎨✨
