Logan Square Blue Line Station Public Art RFQ

The 35th Ward Aldermanic Office, DCASE, and CDOT are seeking a professional artist to create a large-scale, permanent public art installation at the Logan Square CTA Blue Line Station Headhouse, located within the recently built Latinx-themed plaza, La Placita. Qualified artists with a demonstrated history of completing similar projects in Chicago are invited to submit their qualifications. The selected artwork will be installed within a designated area in the public plaza, adhering to a 5 ft x 5 ft x 15 ft above-ground envelope, with weight restrictions between 5,000 lbs and 8,000 lbs. The chosen design must be fabricated from durable, impact-proof materials that complement the station's aesthetics, surrounding plaza, and the Logan Square neighborhood.

Artists are encouraged to incorporate lighting into their proposals for viewing from multiple distances. The final artwork should reflect the community identity of Logan Square, complement the design of the new station and La Placita, and engage viewing from surrounding city streets. The artwork must be engineered for minimal maintenance and withstand environmental demands; only durable and resilient media will be considered. Steel and impact-resistant media are recommended for this high-traffic pedestrian plaza. Two ¾" diameter conduits will be stubbed to the base of the sculpture to allow for lighting elements.

This project is funded by the Percent for Art Ordinance and the City of Chicago's Capital Plan. Finalists will be paid a $1,000 honorarium to develop proposals. The artwork commission will be $180,000, inclusive of all costs and fees for the artist to execute the project from design through structural engineering, fabrication, site preparation, and installation. The commissioned artist will need to hire electrical and structural engineers. Applicants may submit up to 2 applications. Work samples should include 6-10 images and up to 1 video. Jury dates are 9/30/26 - 10/19/26.