Discover & share
Discover the murals and share the stories that make Pilsen unique.
About Pilsen Mural Fest
Rooted in Pilsen. Open to what’s next.
Rooted in Pilsen.
Open to what’s next.
Pilsen has always told its stories on its walls. Its murals hold generations of culture, creativity, and community. Pilsen Mural Fest was founded by Joe Suta and Mari Russo to honor that legacy while creating new opportunities for artists and connecting the people, businesses, and cultural spaces that make this neighborhood unique.
Year Zero · 2026
3 murals.
3 murals. 4 paid artists 1 neighborhood.
3 murals.
4 paid artists
1 neighborhood.
Year Zero is the first chapter of Pilsen Mural Fest.
Year Zero is the first chapter of Pilsen Mural Fest: a pilot rooted in the belief that public art can support artists, strengthen community connections, and create new possibilities for Pilsen’s creative future.
Curated by Joe Suta, the project brings together artists with distinct perspectives and practices, creating space for collaboration, experimentation, and new ways of telling the neighborhood’s stories.
The Collaboration
Se Vale Soñar It’s okay to dream.
At the heart of Year Zero is a collaboration between Michelle Vega, an emerging designer and first-generation Chicana multidisciplinary artist from Chicago, and Tanner Woodford, a Chicago-based muralist, designer, and creative leader.
Their graphic mural, Se Vale Soñar—“It’s okay to dream”—brings together different creative perspectives in a shared expression of imagination, identity, and possibility. Their collaboration reflects what Pilsen Mural Fest hopes to nurture: opportunities for artists to work together, share their voices, and create something that reaches beyond the wall.
Our Community
A festival built by the neighborhood.
Pilsen Mural Fest is not about replacing what already exists. It is about building on Pilsen’s mural tradition and supporting the people who keep it alive.
Neighbors can discover the murals and share their stories. Local businesses can connect with artists and explore collaborations. Artists, cultural organizations, sponsors, and supporters can help create opportunities for future projects.
Connect & collaborate
Connect with artists and explore opportunities for collaboration.
Build what’s next
Help create opportunities for future projects through art and community.
We’re starting small and building thoughtfully, one wall, one relationship, and one collaboration at a time.
Join Us
Be part of what’s next.
Join us for the Year Zero reception on October 25, 2026, at The Low Pressure Collective in Pilsen.
October 25, 2026 · The Low Pressure Collective · Pilsen
The walls are already telling our stories.
Let’s make room for what’s next.