Pablo Serrano recently had an interview outside of Su Familia Real Estate in West Elsdon, where he created murals on each building. He believes art is a method of connection.
“Art is responding to life,” he said. “To the things that we’re going through, and fundamental questions that go to-where have we been, where are we at, where are we going?”
Serrano was commissioned by Su Familia’s owners to create murals in celebration of their 25th anniversary. He aimed to submit works that correspond with Chicago’s identity.
“The title of it is ‘Hope: the Journey Together Towards the Future’ and it features a couple of different elements that are central to what I think is a shared goal of home. When you establish home, whether it’s your apartment or you buy your first home that you’re thinking about your kids, you’re thinking about your family, you’re thinking about your community, your neighbors, the city,” he said.
Serrano is one of Chicago’s most prolific artists. He created four towering murals all over the city in 2022.
“I was blessed to grow up in Pilsen that has this amazing rich cultural history of public art, all of these giants that paved the way for this ongoing conversation that’s happening about Mexican American identity as a whole,” he said. “But what’s important to understand is that they’re standing on the shoulders of other muralists, other artists, and it’s this long continuity. Muralism, public art here in Chicago, has the same obligation and the opportunity to create a Chicago identity.”
Serrano’s 2022 murals can be seen at the following locations:
-“Hope: the Journey Together Towards the Future” -Su Familia Real Estate, 5417 S. Pulaski.
-“We Are Each Other’s Only Hope” – Nourishing Hope, 1716 W. Hubbard
– “Children’s Dreams, Chicago’s Hope” – Pasteur Elementary, 5825 S. Kostner
– “Creative Cultural Chemistry of Democracy” – PortionPac Chemical Corporation, 400 N. Ashland