Pizza In The Rain and the Depiction of Home

Written by Bianca Nguyen

Some paint people, others paint objects. Some portray otherworldly images while Pizza In The Rain, a Chicago-based artist portrays the familiarity of his hometown. Using what is most known to him throughout his life, he paints the lively urban scene of a modern Chicago through images of storefronts such as Jimmy’s Corner or Yankee’s Pizza, invoking nostalgia among his audience. One of his most widely-recognized works is his art series Facade circa 2022 at the Vertical Gallery, depicting familiar Chicagoan landmarks with worn-out entryways and graffiti-painted walls that the artist would often see in his day-to-day life between Logan Square and Old Irving, his former and current residences.

The paintings in the series show beloved Chicagoan landmarks, carrying distinctive cultural elements weathered by the rise of modernity in American society. And of course like most art, it is self-explanatory at first glance but quickly gains deeper meaning as the viewer takes their time with it. As seen in the picture provided above, PITR has depicted no people in his scenes, just old-timey stores standing still in a city changing ever so quickly. The discolored bricks, empty street, and lone truck marked with graffiti illustrates an image well-known to the townies that have spent their lives in bustling cities. Even without the presence of people, his work is nostalgic to a world of community and routine.  It feels lived-in even to those a stranger to the comings and goings of city life. Through his eyes, Chicago is not presented as a picture perfect tourist destination but a warm and vibrant city, which without its people would lose its livelihood.  

The series also comments on the volatile nature of urban life. Brand-new storefronts ten years ago become empty and unnoticeable. Business signs get taken down, neon lights lose their fluorescents, and sooner or later, the windows are boarded before you know it. With pictures taken from his smart phone, Pizza In The Rain captures the essence of a metropolitan city in our modern day, with a kindness and love one distinctly has wherever they call their home.