Viewing art is a beautiful way to appreciate people’s perspectives on life, nature, and the world around them. Some people enjoy looking at realistic art, while others prefer using their imagination when seeing expressive or whimsical art. Whether you want to take your family to see murals or bronze sculptures or want them to take art classes, here’s a list of art installations and courses in the Warrenville, Illinois, area.

Naperville Century Walk

As part of the Naperville Century Walk, you’ll find a wide variety of art pieces lining the streets of downtown Naperville. The Century Walk Corporation brings diverse art to the local community while supporting local artists through this public art installation.

You’ll find sculptures such as the Cat in the Hat, A Lifetime Together, Dick Tracy, Mr. and Mrs. Naperville, and Horse Market Days. Popular works of art include Children Reading, River of Life, and The Printed Word. The artists who create these mixed media art pieces all have a story to tell with their artwork.

Location: 34 W. Chicago Ave., Suite B in Naperville.

Art at the Albright Building

The Warrenville Historical Society invites artists to participate in the artist-in-residency program to create original artwork in the striking Albright Building. In this program, staff will choose an artist to make a piece of art and help develop community and educational programs. The artist will receive a stipend for the work they do. Additional programs include the Plein Air painting competition, where they will display the pieces to the public. When you visit the Albright Building, you can walk through the galleries to view various exhibitions showcasing Warrenville’s rich artistic history.

Location: 3S530 Second St. in Warrenville.

DuPage Public Art Project

If you enjoy murals, head over to Glen Ellyn to see the two 8-by-10-foot murals painted by local college alumnus Tony Fitzpatrick. The DuPage Public Art Project commissioned Fitzpatrick to create these murals to help foster art development within the local community. These colorful pieces depict native birds in a contemporary setting and help express the artist’s connection to nature and politics. Every year, the DuPage Public Art Project commissions other artists to contribute to the public art installations, including the Taylor Avenue Tunnel Mural, Glen Ellyn Letters, and Chalk the Walk.

Location: Main St. in Glen Ellyn.

Cantigny Park

Cantigny Park is a regal 500-acre park that was once the estate of Colonel Robert R. McCormick, the former editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune. Since 1958, visitors have enjoyed the Robert R. McCormick Museum, the First Division Museum, the Education Center, and the striking gardens within Cantigny Park. History buffs can tour the First Division Museum to see tanks and artillery pieces from World War I to Desert Storm and other wartime artifacts. If you come to the park in September, you can witness the two-day Revolutionary War reenactment.

As you wander through the grounds and gardens, you’ll notice bronze and other metal sculptures and intriguing rock and gravel gardens. Check Cantigny Park’s calendar for events such as the Music Together Family classes, Abstract Self Portraits: An Art Therapy Experience workshops, and Moonlit Movies in the Park.

Location: 1S151 Winfield Road in Wheaton.

Yorktown Center

When you’re looking for free things to do around Warrenville with your family, take them to Yorktown Center to see the two murals titled “Flourish” that frame the center’s entrance. The two artists, Veronica Martinez of Chicago, and Edgar Sosa of Cicero, wanted to represent the town of Lombard’s history and diverse fauna, and the walls of Yorktown Center are the perfect place to do so. As you gaze at the murals, you’ll see snippets of the history of the area, the Chicago skyline, and the colorful birds and native animals of the Lombard area.

Location: Yorktown Shopping Center in Lombard.

The DuPage Art League

Adults and kids can learn how to bring out their inner artists by taking classes at the DuPage Art League. You can sign your youngsters up for art summer camp with fun courses such as Cartoon Drawing & Storytelling or Northside Park Sketchers, where the teachers take the kids to local parks to sketch and draw things they find in nature.

Adults can sign up for art classes covering areas such as watercolors, urban sketching, oil painting, and pastel painting. The instructors keep the class sizes small so each student receives attention and direction for their art projects. When you become a member of the DuPage Art League, you can attend the Monday night artist demonstration, take pottery classes, and learn how to paint portraits in oil. After your class or event, stop by the gift shop to pick up one-of-a-kind art pieces perfect for gifts for yourself, friends, and family.

Location: 218 W. Front St. in Wheaton.

The Sundance Gallery

If you appreciate Native American art, stop by the Sundance Gallery in Naperville. Walking through the gallery, you’ll see magnificent handcrafted jewelry, baskets, weavings, and other arts and crafts from local and contributing Native American artists. Enjoy seeing the beauty of jewelry made from silver with turquoise, black onyx, coral, and other semiprecious stones.

Marvel at the intricacies of Native American beadwork from the 1800s, the details found on Hopi kachina dolls, and sculpted pottery from various villages throughout the United States. The proprietor of Sundance Gallery authenticates each piece of art so you can be sure you’re getting Native American-made pieces. After visiting this gallery, you’ll have a greater appreciation for the creative and artistic work of vintage and contemporary Native American artists.

Location:  103 S. Washington in Naperville.

Learn More About the Warrenville Community

Our team at Crème de la Crème of Warrenville proudly shares information about our community, including family-friendly restaurants, places for kids to play sports, and local cultural events. If you have a suggestion for other places to see art installations in the Warrenville, Illinois, area, let us know, and we can share your recommendation with others.

Image by David Wilson is licensed with CC BY 2.0