Arts Lawn to Feature 'City Lovers in Paradise' Sculpture Installation This Summer

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Washington Park · February 17, 2026

Washington Park's vibrant Arts Lawn will soon welcome an exciting new addition to its cultural landscape with the installation of Yvette Mayorga's 'City Lovers in Paradise' this summer. The striking ensemble will feature three visually dynamic metal sculptures, each standing over six feet tall, with the inaugural piece 'Queen of the City' set to be installed in summer 2026. The artwork embodies Mayorga's signature use of ornamentation while reimagining her family's narrative of labor and care as a tribute to shared history and connection.

The installation is part of a broader arts initiative in Washington Park that brings together artists, activists, and architects to share stories behind works in progress throughout the neighborhood. Residents will have opportunities to engage with the artwork through printmaking sessions with multi-disciplinary artist William Estrada and architectural story-gathering activities where community members can record memories about beloved Chicago sites or place-based love stories connected to Mayorga's piece. This artistic development joins other community-centered projects in the area, including the recently opened fossil lab and the planned pathology lab near the Garfield Green Line station, all aimed at bringing new vibrancy to the Washington Park corridor.

Residents interested in learning more about 'City Lovers in Paradise' and other upcoming arts installations can visit the Arts + Public Life website or attend the Washington Park Advisory Council's monthly meeting, where updates on community arts initiatives are regularly shared.

Sources:
1. https://artsandpubliclife.org/apl-events-calendar/in-the-making-a-public-art-journey-through-washington-park
2. https://www.hpherald.com/evening_digest/u-of-c-talks-washington-park-development-plans/article_ccfc9afe-359e-11ef-b053-8f42f7dde642.html