Young Artist Brings Gallery to South Shore's 71st Street

A 26-year-old muralist has transformed a long-vacant storefront on East 71st Street into South Shore’s newest art gallery, bringing creative programming and economic opportunity to a neighborhood that has seen few new businesses in recent years.

Maya Rodriguez opened Collective Canvas Gallery last month in a 1,200-square-foot space that had been empty for nearly three years. The gallery features rotating exhibitions by South Side artists, offers free art classes for neighborhood youth, and hosts community workshops on weekends.

“I grew up seeing so much talent in this community that never had a platform,” Rodriguez said while arranging paintings for the gallery’s second exhibition. “Kids would create incredible art in school or at home, but there was nowhere for them to show it or learn from other artists.”

Rodriguez, who graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2019, spent two years working with aldermanic offices and community organizations to secure the space at 7147 S. Jeffrey Boulevard. She negotiated a reduced-rent agreement with the property owner and received grants from the Chicago Community Trust and the South Shore Chamber of Commerce to cover renovation costs and initial programming.

The South Shore neighborhood, which spans from 67th to 79th streets along Lake Michigan, has faced decades of disinvestment. According to Chicago Department of Planning data, the area has lost nearly 40 percent of its businesses since 2000. However, recent initiatives including the Obama Presidential Center development have sparked new interest in South Side cultural projects.

“Maya’s gallery represents exactly the kind of grassroots economic development we need,” said Stephanie Washington, executive director of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce. “She’s not just opening a business – she’s creating a space where local artists can build careers and young people can discover their talents.”

The gallery’s opening exhibition in January featured 15 artists from across the South Side, including painters, photographers, and sculptors. Works ranged from abstract paintings to documentary photography exploring themes of community resilience and neighborhood change. All pieces were available for purchase, with the gallery taking a modest 25 percent commission.

Rodriguez plans to dedicate 40 percent of wall space to artists under age 25, including participants in the gallery’s free youth programs. Every Tuesday evening, she offers drawing and painting classes for teenagers, while Saturday workshops focus on different media including printmaking, collage, and digital art.

Fifteen-year-old Marcus Johnson, a sophomore at South Shore International College Prep, has attended every Tuesday session since the gallery opened. His charcoal portrait of his grandmother was selected for display in the current exhibition.

“Before this, I just drew at home and maybe showed my mom,” Johnson said. “Now I’m learning techniques I never knew existed, and people from the neighborhood come in and tell me they love my work. It makes me think I could actually be an artist.”

The gallery has also attracted attention from established Chicago artists and collectors. Rodriguez recently partnered with the Hyde Park Art Center to bring visiting artists to lead workshops, and several pieces from opening exhibitions have been purchased by collectors from Lincoln Park and the Loop.

Beyond showcasing visual art, Collective Canvas hosts monthly “Art & Community” panels where local artists discuss their work alongside neighborhood leaders, small business owners, and residents. February’s panel focused on how public art can address community concerns about safety and beautification.

Rodriguez estimates the gallery has drawn more than 800 visitors since opening, including art enthusiasts from across Chicagoland who have discovered South Shore artists for the first time. She tracks visitor origins through a simple sign-in process and found that 35 percent come from outside the South Side.

“We’re changing the narrative about what’s happening in this neighborhood,” Rodriguez explained. “Yes, we face challenges, but there’s incredible creativity and entrepreneurship here. The gallery helps people see that.”

The space includes a small retail section featuring prints, zines, and handmade items by local artists. Rodriguez plans to expand programming this spring with poetry readings, live painting events, and collaborations with nearby schools.

Funding remains an ongoing challenge. Rodriguez currently works part-time as a freelance graphic designer to supplement the gallery’s income, and she’s applying for additional grants to hire a part-time program coordinator. The South Shore Chamber of Commerce has committed to helping with marketing and connecting the gallery to other local businesses.

Looking ahead, Rodriguez hopes Collective Canvas will inspire similar ventures throughout the South Side. She’s already been contacted by young entrepreneurs in Bronzeville and Englewood asking for advice about opening their own cultural spaces.

“This is just the beginning,” Rodriguez said. “Every neighborhood deserves spaces where people can express themselves and celebrate their creativity. We’re proving it can work here, and I hope others will follow.”

Collective Canvas Gallery is open Thursday through Sunday, 1-7 p.m. Current exhibitions and class schedules are posted on the gallery’s Instagram @collectivecanvasChi.