Mirtes is a visual artist, muralist, and teaching artist. She was born in Brazil and has lived in Chicago since 1981. Her studio work, through either individual or collective exhibitions, has been extensively shown in the Chicago area. She has also shown work in Mexico, Nicaragua, and Brazil. Mirtes left Brazil for Paris as a political refugee, and her studio work reflects her lifelong concern with social justice and political discourse at both the public and private levels. She firmly believes in the capacity that art has to challenge conventions and the status quo. Her current studio work has explored the changing nature of the urban landscape and the new symbolic meanings involved in public space.
During her career, she has documented the demolition of the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) housing projects as an artistic reflection that translates into her artwork. As an arts educator, she has worked with numerous arts organizations, producing around 72 mosaics and painted murals and countless art residency programs for over fifty Chicago and suburban schools. Each project expands her view of the numerous possibilities of her own art and her teaching point of view. She has a passion for inspiring students of all ages to explore their artistic abilities and fostering a love for creativity, self-expression, and cultural understanding. She believes in creating inclusive and supportive environments that encourage artistic exploration, critical thinking, and collaboration. As a muralist, she has successfully completed large-scale projects in collaboration with communities, schools, and organizations. Her teaching philosophy centers around the power of collective creativity and learning.
Mirtes working with student on mosaic mural through CPAG and Decatur School
Featured Artworks
Mosaic column at ASM Gately Park building, finished 2021
Photographed by Tony Lacroix
Designed and created by teens in After School Matter, started in 2019 and finished in 2022 after COVID interruption. 4 faces on column, each side is 3' by 15'
Side view 1 of Gately mosaic column
Photographed by Tony Lacroix
Side View of Gately Park ASM mosaic Column. Science and sport themes. Designed and created by teens in After School Matter, started in 2019 and finished in 2021 after COVID interruption. 4 faces on column, each side is 3' by 15'
Mirtes pictured extreme right
Mirtes and her After School Matters students in summer 2021 at After School Matters Millennium Park tent. They are standing in front of one side of the ASM Gately column.
Photographed by Tony Lacroix
Mosaic columns designed and created by George Washington HS students through CAPE in 2018-19
Virtual Murals, the students worked online under the theme of connection/ communication in a virtual public art for Chicago. This one the example of 3 students' artwork painted banners virtually hanging on the Chicago River bridge.Spring 2021
Project from ASM Virtual Murals, done in Spring 2022.
Virtual Murals
Designed by students of After School Matters Virtual Murals class. This project had students design a potential mural to be displayed as a graphic on the side of a city bus.
Four benches covered with mosaic fabricated and designed by 18 students from 6 to 8 grade with the help of the same parents. The benches were installed in the school backyard. The theme was about Peace, Equality, and Empathy. Spring 2022
Mirtes with her students working on the in-progress Decatur school mosaic benches 2023
Photographed by Tony Lacroix
Chicago Agricultural High School mural mosaic created by students through Chicago Arts Partner in Education (CAPE). 2022
Detail of bees on Chicago Agricultural High School mural mosaic created by students through CAPE. 2022
Mobility and Movement of Body
Mirtes with her diverse learner students in front of their art installation focused on "Mobility and Movement of Body" 2023
Mirtes with her diverse learner students. Spring 2023
Mirtes with her diverse learner students. Spring 2023
Freshman students, in a group collaboration, created this mixed media artwork on recycled boards to express their concern for their own community. The photo shows one of those artworks which the theme was Mental Health and the other of Hunger. Spring 2023
Mirtes with her students. Spring 2023
Subvert Series
Personal work. Tryptic, Mixed media. 2021. Shown at Chicago Public Art Group Art Gallery in 2022.
Voices to Reach, Hands to Carve Justice
Outside view of Chicago Public Art Group, Community Window Project, 2021. Public art installation about current turmoil and struggle for social justice through the lens of local youth. In collaboration with former ASM student Katie Lacroix.
Voices to Reach, Hands to Carve Justice
Inside view of Chicago Public Art Group, Community Window Project, 2021. Public art installation about current turmoil and struggle for social justice through the lens of local youth.
After School Matters Lutz building mosaic.
Mirtes in front of the mosaic made by her class of high school mosaic apprentices for the new After School Matters Lutz building. 2018
Detail of Lutz mosaic
Mirtes Zwierzynski has crowd-funded a project with 3AP
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- $5,078 raised of $5,000 goal
- 0 Days 0:00:00 LEFT
This project will complete the second phase of a new public mural on Chicago's south side, engaging a nearby retirement community as well as elementary and high school students in the neighborhood.
Read more about 57th Street Mosaic Underpass Mural