About Natalia Virafuentes

Natalia Virafuentes is a Mexican-American muralist/interdisciplinary artist, born and raised in the city of Chicago. Her passions consist of creating art and transforming spaces. Her philosophy is that art is a form of self-expression that gives you a bigger sense of self.

In-The-Field Experience

Murals

2023

Civic Season murals, six interactive murals for three different events commissioned by Chicago 

History Museum, Chicago, IL

Clemente high school murals, organized by Paint the City and BUILD, Women’s month mural, 

Chicago, IL

Steinmetz high school graduate mural, commissioned by Steinmetz College Prep, Chicago, IL

Steinmetz high school game room murals, commissioned by Steinmetz College Prep, Chicago, IL

2022

Octopus Alebrije, mural commissioned by North River Commission, Chicago, IL

LaSalle Aglow installation, organized by Paint the City and Chicago Loop Alliance, Chicago,IL

Five school murals, commissioned by St. Agnes of Bohemia elementary, Chicago, IL

Tonantzin-Coatlicue mural, Meeting of Styles graffiti festival, Chicago, IL

Four community murals, commissioned by BUILD, Chicago, IL

Masked Being no. 1, collaborative wall for Farmers Market Garden Center, Chicago, IL

Sunflower Child, Edgewater Alderman, Chicago, IL

Spirit Guides, collaboration with Natalia Sustaita for Project Logan, Chicago, IL

Unidas mural, Juntas Hacemos Mas mural festival, Mexico City, Mexico

Bottle Cap mural, commissioned by Greater Southwest organization, Chicago, IL

Duel Character mural, collaboration with Stef Skills, Chicago, IL2022

Ice Cream drips, 360 ice-cream mural, Eiffel Waffle, Chicago, IL

Window Art, window advertisement, Mattress by Appointment Chicago, Chicago, IL

Spring Window Art, window advertisement, Rogers Park Business Alliance, Chicago, IL

2021

Holiday Window Art, window advertisement, Rogers Park Business Alliance, Chicago, IL

Skeletons in the Closet mural, collaboration with Natalia Sustaita, commissioned by Underground Art Gallery, Chicago, IL

The HUB Mural installation, Collaboration with organized by Andrea Jablonski and Stolatis, Studio K Creative, Blacksburg, VA

Albany Park Flower Pillar, Organized by Albany park Chamber of commerce, Chicago, IL

Allies in Places, private mural for The Lakota Group, Chicago, IL

Earth Day Window Murals, hand painted 11differnt business windows for an Earth day event at Rogers Park, curated by Rogers Park Business Alliance, Chicago, IL

Thai Hanuman Mural, anti-Asian hate mural, Chicago, IL

Mural Fest, collaboration with Mario Mena, Blue moon art gallery healing spa, Chicago, IL

Se Fuerte, street mural, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

Virgin Mary with Roses, private mural, Navajas, Jalisco, Mexico

Dog Alebrije, private mural for backyard, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

Peacock Mexican Embroidery, private mural, Navajas, Jalisco, Mexico

Se Fuerte, private mural, Navajas, Jalisco, Mexico

2020

Christmas Theme Mural, Project Logan, collaboration with multiple artists, Chicago, IL

Meeting Of Styles, mural fest, collaboration with Natalia Sustaita, Chicago, IL

Mental Health Mural, curated collab with multiple artists, we organized a neighborhood clean up and art kit give away, Chicago, IL

Outdoor and Indoor Murals, Anayeli’s Decorations, Chicago, IL

Black is Beautiful Murals, three liquor and spirits stores, Chicago, IL

Multiple Murals, restaurants, hotels, and other boarded up businesses due to riots, Chicago, IL

Indoor Thai Umbrellas and Outdoor Thai Lilies Murals, Asian Mix Cafe, Chicago, IL

2019

Pillar Mural, painted a 360 degree  pillar for the Extraordinarium store, Chicago, IL

Meeting of Styles, individual mural in South Chicago, Chicago, IL

UNITY Mural, group/individual murals in Pilsen, Chicago, IL

2016

Daycare Murals, painted walls on two floors and Outdoors sign, Chicago, IL

Child’s Bedroom Murals, painted a 360 degree mural covered all four walls, Berwyn, IL

Childrens’ Headboard Names, painted names on headboards, Berwyn, IL

2015

Drive-by Art Installation, featured artist for South Worx Artestreet art installations, Chicago, IL

2013

Family Mural day in Humboldt park, art teacher and installation helper, Chicago, IL  

2007

Paderewski Elementary School Mural; part of a team of students, painter and

designer, portraits of community members working together. Chicago, IL 

 

Freelance 

2023

Mask Decorating workshop, Somos Arte, Navy Pier, Chicago, IL

Butterfly Cutout, neighborhood painting, Palenque LSNA, Chicago, IL

Window Logo, window advertisement, Chicago Upholstery, Chicago, IL

Art Club, teaching after school program at Steinmetz College Prep, Chicago, IL

2022

Holiday Window Art, window advertisement, Chicago Upholstery, Chicago, IL

Interactive Mural, Navy Pier Holiday pop-up, Chicago, IL

Holiday Window Art, window advertisement, Rogers Park Business Alliance, Chicago, IL

Somos Locales Painting and Commercial, commissioned by Mexican National Team for USA 

Mextour campaign, Chicago, IL

Art Classes, teaching after school programs through BUILD, Chicago, IL

Community Murals, teaching summer program through BUILD, Chicago, IL

Octopus Alebrije Painting, commissioned by Somos Arte for St. Procopius Day of the Dead 

fest, Chicago, IL

Must See Black Horror Films Poster, commissioned by Pocket Con and First Aid COmics for 

film fest at the Harper Theater, Chicago, IL

Double Feature Poster, commissioned by Film programer Raul Benites and Viviana 

Garcia-Bense for film fest at the Music Box Theater, Chicago, IL

La Villita Park Little Library, commissioned by Big Dipper Projects, Chicago, IL 

Navy Pier Makers Market, event supervisor for Lolita’s Bodega, Chicago, IL

Comics Against Erasure: Black History Month, event organizer for BCAF hosted at Chicago 

History Museum, Chicago, IL

Triptych Painting, commissioned by Cascabel Taco restaurant, Chicago, IL 

Window Art, window advertisement, Mattress by Appointment Chicago, Chicago, IL

Spring Window Art, window advertisement, Rogers Park Business Alliance, Chicago, IL

2021

Holiday Window Art, window advertisement, Rogers Park Business Alliance, Chicago, IL

Part-time work, fabrication, installation and painting, at Allkinds Studio Inc., Chicago, IL

Part-time work, fabrication, set and mural painting, at Stolatis Fabrication LLC, Chicago,  IL

Part-time work, , painting and installing, at South Worx Arte Group, Chicago, IL

Art Classes, Chicago House and Social Service Agency started in 2020, Chicago, IL

2020

Wedding Anniversary Painting, Personal painting for a lovely couple, Milwaukee, WI

Album Cover Design, Dj Skoli, Chicago, IL

T-shirt design and Acrylic painting, 10yr anniversary design for Justice for Our 

Neighbors, Chicago, IL

T-shirt design, startup company 20/20 vision, Chicago, IL

Motivational Painting, IsahMaazing trainer, El Paso, TX

Menu Board, for restaurant chosen by Logan Square Neighborhood Association, Chicago, IL 

Part-time work, miscellaneous work from fabric to sanding and painting, at Stolatis 

Fabrication LLC, Chicago, IL

Part-time work, miscellaneous work sanding, painting and installing, at South Worx Art Group, Chicago, IL

2019

Fabricated an Eiffel Tower with lights, this project was for a Quinceñera party, Chicago, IL

2014

PocketCon, Artist relations, Chicago, IL 

2013

Restoration of Cool Globes, paint restoration of ten giant globes, at South Worx Art Group, Chicago, IL

 

Languages

Spanish and English