The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), in partnership with the Chicago Park District, announced two major public art commissions by Native artists that further the City of Chicago’s commitment to inclusive public art and commemorative works through the Chicago Monuments Project (CMP). Following a competitive national call, artists Leah Mata Fragua (Northern Chumash) and Cliff Fragua (Jemez Pueblo) were selected to create a major new public artwork for the future DuSable Park as part of the Honoring Native Voices commission. In addition, artist Jason Wesaw (Potawatomi) was selected for a large-scale banner mural installation for the Chicago Riverwalk Public Art Program near Michigan Avenue. The artists were selected through a national Request for Qualifications process that yielded 97 applications from across the country. The commissions build upon the City’s broader work through the Chicago Monuments Project, launched in 2020 to address inequities in Chicago’s monument landscape while supporting new monuments, memorials, and public artworks that reflect the city’s diverse histories and communities.

Photo Credit: Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events