Large-scale art decorates downtown Aurora

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"The Cultural Context of a Fox" by Cheryl Holz

I'm craving art in new places; however, I'm still not ready to be crammed into a plane. So, I devised an alternative by looking for cities along the Metra train lines that would be good art experiences. Metra makes it easy to legally train hop by offering 11 different lines out of Chicago. Download the Ventra app, which allows you to purchase inexpensive one-day or weekend passes. 

I caught wind of the impressive art embellishing downtown Aurora, so I decided to start there. I only had to see a couple of photos to yearn for a trip sooner than later. I boarded the Metra BNSF line to Aurora on a bitterly cold day. I'm used to being outside during the winter, but wow! I wimped out and only photographed seven murals. It's not a total loss, as I will return as soon as it warms up.

A big thanks to Jennifer Evans, Director of Public Art, for answering my questions and providing me with a handy map of the installations. The downtown area is very walkable, and it's easy to spot the murals. Their colorful, large presence made up for the bleak weather. In addition to wall murals, there are utility box murals and sculptures. 

I commend the artists, as their work is spectacular.

"Diversity in Technology" by Rafael Blanco - 105 E Galena


"The Gift of Alexa and her MS" by Judith de Leeuw - 13 S Broadway


"Hope Wings" by Sam Cervantes - 118 E Galena


Laura Lynne and Catalina Diaz - 201 E Galena

"Alebrijes" by Pierre Lucero, Catalina Diaz, Laura Reyes & Janice Rodriguez - E New York at BNSF Viaduct



Stuk One - 11 N Broadway


"Parallel Rivers" by Ruben Aguirre - SE Benton and Broadway on BNSF Viaduct

Shouldn't every city utilize artists to display artwork like this? I sure think so. Aurora is doing a fantastic job, and I look forward to more exploration on my next visit. One thing I'm interested in doing is attending First Fridays, which is a mix of art, music, and dance. I also want to have a few beers at Two Brothers Roundhouse, conveniently located next to the train station. Come on, spring!

You can view all my street art findings here.

Location: Aurora, IL, USA

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