Ed Paschke Art Center

This is a must stop on any art tour of Chicago. The small museum is dedicated to the work of Ed Paschke. Here you will find his art in many media, his studio recreated from Howard St. (neat!), and videos about him, plus a small gallery given over to another artist for a temporary show.
I liked my time here, first because the space is sharp and clean, the art is well-​presented, and admission is free – and second, because the exhibit raises more questions about Paschke’s work than it answers. There is very little in the way of wall texts to explain his art or give it context, and the half-​hour video presentation is raw footage, not a full-​fledged finely honed exploration of its subject. Ed does say in the video that he didn’t enjoy his classes at the Art Institute in the 1960’s; he preferred the Pop Art appearing in New York at the time. Still, I was left to wonder what artists influenced or inspired him, what stages his career passed through, where his wild use of color stems from, why bullets and guns are so prominent a motif in his work, and many other things.
In the video there were images of black and white posters for his shows that looked terrific; I would have enjoyed seeing a selection of posters in the gallery. You will need 30 minutes for the exhibit and another 30 mins. if you watch the video. Engaging with this important Chicago artist is worthwhile on every level.

I miss Ed. He was… IS…a wonderful artist and a great person. A wonderful, kind man who always gave 110% to Chicago’s art community and helped people. Luckily, you can visit here and enjoy his work. The Center holds events, talks and other artist exhibitions.

#1 best thing about the Ed Paschke Art Center is it’s free and near public transportation (like the DePaul Art Museum on Fullerton). Alas, I attended DePaul not Northwestern, so I missed out on getting to «help» Paschke paint. (He sometimes allowed students to paint on his works-​in-​progress in his studio, explaining it would keep him from falling back on his trademark «gestures.») Been a fan since the ‘80s and always hoped to own one of his paintings. Well, because the Center allows non-​flash photography, I can check that off my bucket list. The lower level area featuring other artists’ shows is small but then, so is the building. #2 best thing: it’s quiet and you can stand in front of your favorite painting forever without being disturbed. Metered parking on west side of Higgins, neighborhood parking is tight. If you use the bike racks at the Jefferson Park Field House, use a U-​lock or your bike may be stolen.

What a gem! Right on public transit for downtown folks. An easy drive for west siders. Ed Paschkes art is beautifully displayed in this modest sized gallery. Just right for kids with limited art patience, visitors wanting something uniquely Chicago… The recreation of his studio is fascinating. And it’s FREE! But please donate. You get a cool pin!

I absolutely love this free museum. I had never heard of Ed Paschke until seeing a clip on WTTW’s Chicago Tonight when the museum opened in 2014. It is in a renovated storefront at the intersection of Milwaukee and Higgins which in a former life was the home of a stationary store.
The museum is bright and airy and staffed by a friendly young lady who will answer all of your questions about Ed. They have a number of his works on display and are currently displaying many photos from Steve Schapiro. Steve Schapiro is the photographer who took hundreds of photos of rockers from the 1960’s & 1970’s. Assembled here are iconic photos of Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground, Nico, Andy Warhol and David Bowie.
For me the main attraction is Mr. Paschke’s art. His use of color and dimension literally brings a smile to my face. For those suffering from seasonal affective disorder, a trip to the Ed Paschke Art Center would be a great form of therapy. They have painstakingly recreated his Howard Ave studio and my wife and I enjoyed pouring over all of the interesting notes and tidbits. It gave us some insight into the man. If you visit, be sure to allow time to view the half hour documentary on Ed to gain even greater insight to his art. It runs on an endless loop and you don’t have to worry about walking in during the middle. It’s compiled in such a way that you won’t lose context if you don’t start at the very beginning. It really is a must see.
I’m really glad that we made the trip to visit this museum. It really is a treasure in the Jefferson Park neighborhood. Although it’s free, please consider helping them out by making a donation.

I highly recommend spending time in this gallery. I came her today with a meet-​up and was impressed from start to finish. I wasn’t familiar with Ed Paschke but the gallery tour was guided by a knowledgeable staff person. I really came to admire the artist, his work, and his imprint on art in Chicago and beyond. His art is bold, brave and colorful. If you need a jolt during our gray Chicago winter, this is a good place to spend some time. There was also an exhibit of Steve Schapiro’s photography. On display were some iconic photos of Lou Reed, David Bowie, Andy Warhol, Nico, and The Velvet Underground. We also saw a video of Paschke which gave insight into his creative process, his personality and his sense of humor. His art studio was located in Rogers Park and if you know the area you’ll recognize the intersection near the Howard Red Line stop in the film. His recreated studio is also on display in the gallery. The gallery’s location might be a little out of the way, but if you’re heading out west via Lawrence you’ll also get to see a couple colorful murals honoring Paschke in the viaduct under the train tracks. A great jolt of color on a gray day, indeed.

Wonderful art. Adds creative soul to the neighborhood. Kind staff and curators. Well-​lit and inviting. Accessible to the public and curious passers-​by. Rotating exhibit. Great hours, too.

He is one of my favorite artist and was sad when he died. I attended the Art Center opening weekend and enjoyed seeing all the artwork in one location! Looking forward to going back to see the mural on the side of the building (it was covered opening weekend by a tent.)

The museum is on an inconspicuous location just off Milwaukee Avenue. Large picture windows open up the space filled with out of the ordinary artwork.
Actually, I wouldn’t know how to define his style of work. Regardless, the number of works may not be large. But, they are impressive and are memorable.
I understand the museum has art classes as well, with some of the student works on the lower level. His studio is worth a peek to see part of the creative process of this artist.
I’m told they have revolving works of art that change every few months. A new photography exhibit from a local artist is to be displayed in the coming weeks or months. That will be interesting.
A much-​needed cultural improvement to the area. Stop by and take a look.

If you love art this is a must see. The center is a hidden gem of Jefferson Park. There is a great Paschke mural on both sides of the Lawrence Avenue underpass. The re-​creation of Paschke’s 2004 art studio is amazing … almost every piece is original. A small screening room is designed for viewing an informative video. It’s definitely a place to revisit for upcoming events.

Great to have some fine art in Jeff Park. This is a wonderful addition to the neighborhood. The museum has many of Paschke’s works on exhibit and offers a recreation of his studio to view.
The admission is free and his work is interesting, check it out.

So excited to have this gorgeous addition to Jefferson Park. As Ed Paschke said, «They either love it or hate it, but rarely are they indifferent to it.» Personally, I love it!!! They are currently starting their email list so that they will be able to let those interested know about their future programming. Call them if you don’t have time to visit so they add your name to what will surely be an amazing place in Jefferson Park!