Paintings, Digital Prints, Sculptures & Silkscreens

Maxwell Street first appeared on a map of Chicago in 1847. Situated just southwest of downtown, this stretch of road quickly became a haven for Jewish immigrants from across Eastern Europe. These newly arrived residents began holding informal Sunday markets, where local peddlers sold a wide variety of goods from pushcarts and sidewalk stands. 

The market became known as a platform for entrepreneurs, along with emerging musicians. In the late 19th century, the street was filled with Klezmer music from Eastern Europe. After World War I, the Great Migration brought a wave of African American musicians from the South to Chicago.

These new arrivals brought the South’s blues and jazz traditions with them, and soon this new music could be heard all over Maxwell Street. In order to be heard above the hustle and bustle of the city Muddy Waters & Little Walter began amplifying their instruments — giving rise to a new genre of electrified blues, later known simply as Chicago Blues.  Early Rock artists would copy this style.

In 2024, the city moved Maxwell Street Market back to its original historic location at Maxwell and Halsted Streets. Today, Maxwell Street is adorned with placards and bronze statues commemorating the area’s rich history and its contributions to Chicago’s cultural heritage.