Born in Puerto Rico in 1972, Christopher Tavares Silva’s artistic beginnings were in the world of graffiti art. Silva played a major role in Chicago’s graffiti scene throughout his late teens and early twenties. For the past several years, he has been making a living leading community-based mural/mosaic projects as an artist of the Chicago Public Art Group, as well as doing work for commission and continuing to explore his studio work. Mr. Silva also skateboards, produces music, and writes poetry/song lyrics. In 2004, Silva was awarded a major public art commission by the Chicago Transit Authority to create a mosaic for the Blue Line California Station.

Christopher Tavares Silva Artist Statement

My goal is to do honest, positive arts projects that my entire being is thoroughly invested in. I believe that you get what you give. I trust that maintaining my integrity, and doing art that feels honest and truthful to my nature, is going to payoff in the long run. The concept of "paying off" is not solely in the form of financial gain, but more importantly with regard to my spiritual/mental/emotional well being and the positive effects that my artwork will have upon its viewers.

I know that as a human being I possess strengths and weaknesses. I am concerned with how people relate to the self, to each other and to their environment. I aim to give artistic presence to my humanity and concern. I’m a person who seeks to improve my relationship with myself and with others. My artwork is a diary of this commitment.

I employ ambiguity in my work and strive more to express the essence of issues, rather than the details. I enjoy leaving space for the viewers to fill in with their own perspectives. I’m interested in the visually poetic. I like to work on found objects in attempts to transform what may have been considered trash into treasure.

I’m interested in the language of marks, the lyrical and calligraphic qualities of line, the juxtaposition of the bold and graphic with the understated and ornate, rich surface histories, texture, decay, unusual combinations of materials, seeing the opportunities offered by accidents, and the general adventure of the creative process. I am interested in the balance created by using disparate materials in conjunction with each other. I believe that the harmonious composition of difference is a metaphor for the harmony that is possible between humans when difference is celebrated. I love the process and the unusual outcomes of collaboration with others.

I believe that collective consciousness is infinitely more important than that of individual intellect. For this reason, I am most interested in the interventions of public art. I believe that there is great value in expanding the scope of public art to include more work that is often only experienced in galleries and other private settings. It is my goal to find more ways to expose the general public to art that they can respond to and be inspired by. I want to create progressive, quality public artworks as visual alternatives to the soulless clutter of advertising in public space. My goal is to push the envelope of the public art movement by producing work that uses innovative combinations of materials and content to encourage the perceptual and spiritual evolution of the general public.

Burr Elementary School Mosaic Mural, 2001, ceramic tile mosaic, by Chris Silva.


Soaring Toward Excellence, 1999, acrylic paint and spray enamel on plywood, by Chris Silva


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