We are a community museum featuring exhibits by and for the North Lawndale community.
Located at Love Blooms Here Plaza, southwest corner of Central Park Ave. & Douglas Blvd. (3601 W. Douglas Blvd.) in Chicago, IL.
Featured in the Chicago Tribune: “Community Oasis: Lawndale Pop-Up Spot puts art, storytelling in the hands of the public” and on WGN Radio’s Lisa Dent show: “Check out the real-world ‘Sesame Street’ pop-up in Lawndale”
Now Open
No Such Thing As Vacancy
May 6 - 31, 2025
By positing land as empty, settler colonialism conceals violent, extractive land practices in the name of improving “vacant” land. The Buckthorn plant’s devastation of indigenous ecosystems is an example of this process. However, the act of disposing invasive species risks reproducing colonial logics of extraction. By reusing uprooted Buckthorn bark as a natural dye in a community artwork, No Such Thing as Vacancy showcases that art plays a role in redressing botanic histories.
A project of School of the Art Institute students enrolled in Art History 4024-001: Tragic Beauty.
Opening: Tuesday, May 6, 2025, 4:15-6:15 p.m.
Fabric dye workshop: Friday, May 16, 2025, 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Closing: Saturday, May 31, 2025, Noon-4:00 p.m.
Coming Soon
ReLeaf Print
A printmaking exhibition by Jesús Oviedo, Alexandra Antoine, Saul Aguirre, Rayshawn Nowlin, and members of the North Lawndale community. In collaboration with the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. Featuring prints made during Fridays on the Plaza and other events in May 2025.
Opening: Thursday, June 12, 2025
Running through Saturday, July 19, 2025
Juneteenth Parade
Thursday, June 19, 2025
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Sponsored by Grace Memorial Baptist Church and the Chi North Lawndale Chamber of Commerce. Parade route: 16th & Kostner to Homan & Ogden. Followed by the annual Juneteenth Festival sponsored by Boxing Out Negativity.
4th Annual Chicago Sukkah Design Festival
October 2025
Exploring design literacy, social justice, and neighborhood futuring. In partnership with Could Be Design, Open Architecture Chicago, and Architecture for Public Benefit
Location: James Stone Freedom Square, 3615 W. Douglas Blvd., just down the block from Love Blooms Here Plaza & the Lawndale Pop-Up Spot.
“This pop-up museum helps shine a light on the positivity and good the Lawndale community has to offer.”
— Senator Dick Durbin
