People from Chicago tend to stay from Chicago, wherever they end up living. The city gets into people. So does a first visit: the walk along the river, the view from the lakefront, the first sight of the towers from the highway. A picture of that skyline on a wall is a way of keeping it close.
That makes Chicago skyline art one of the easiest gifts to get right. You don't need to know someone's taste in art. You only need to know they love the city.
Why a skyline means so much
A skyline is the face of a city. Chicago's is one of the most recognisable in the world, and with reason. The city is widely regarded as the birthplace of the skyscraper, and it has been a showcase of tall-building design for well over a century. Its towers stand along the edge of Lake Michigan, with open water in front of them, which is why the view is so clear and so often photographed.
For someone who has lived there, the skyline isn't architecture. It is the commute, the first flat, the summer evenings by the lake. Art of a place works because it holds memories that are theirs, not the artist's.
Who it is for
- Someone who moved away. A reminder of home is the most meaningful version of this gift.
- Someone who just moved there. A new flat in a new city, with empty walls. It marks the start.
- A graduate of one of the city's universities.
- A couple who met, got engaged or married there.
- A sports fan. The skyline is common ground for every team in town.
- Someone who visited and loved it. A better souvenir than anything from the airport.
- A business based there: an office, a cafe, a studio or a rental flat for visitors.
The Chicago pieces
We have Chicago artwork in several styles and almost every format.
- Chicago Skyline canvas: the statement piece, stretched and ready to hang. There is also a second Chicago skyline canvas in a different treatment.
- Chicago Cityscape framed poster: a matte print in a solid wood frame, with hanging hardware. The most gift-ready option.
- Chicago Pixel Art poster: the skyline as retro 8-bit art, for a gamer or anyone with a sense of humour about it.
- Chicago Skyline tapestry: wall-sized, light and easy to hang without nails. Good for a student or a renter.
- Cyberpunk Chicago Harbor tapestry: the city reimagined in neon, for someone who likes science fiction with their hometown.
- Chicago Skyline desk mat: the skyline on the desk, for an office or a gaming setup.
- Chicago keychain and pin: small, inexpensive, and easy to post.
Choosing the format
By how well you know them
- Close friend or family: a canvas or a framed poster. Something that goes on the wall for years.
- A colleague or acquaintance: a keychain, a pin or a desk mat. Thoughtful without being too much.
By where they live
- They own their home: canvas or framed poster.
- They rent, or live in a dorm: a tapestry or a poster, which need no nails and move easily.
- You don't know: a framed poster in a medium size fits almost anywhere.
By budget
- Under $20: a keychain or a pin.
- $20 to $45: a poster, a desk mat or a medium tapestry.
- $45 and up: a canvas or a framed poster.
Prices are approximate, at the time of writing.
Choosing the style
A skyline can be shown many ways, and the style changes who it suits.
- A straightforward skyline suits almost everyone, and any room.
- Pixel art suits a games room, a desk or a younger recipient.
- The cyberpunk version suits someone whose home already has neon, science fiction or gaming decor.
If you are unsure, choose the plainest version. It is the one that will fit in anywhere.
Where to hang it
- The living room, above the sofa. A skyline is naturally wide, and suits the wall over long furniture.
- The home office. Behind the desk, it is a good background on video calls and a conversation starter.
- The hallway or entry. It tells visitors something about you as soon as they come in.
- A guest room, if you host people from out of town.
For hanging height, see how high to hang wall art. For size above furniture, see the canvas size guide.
Making it more personal
- Add a note about a shared memory of the city: a place you went together, the neighbourhood they lived in.
- Pair two cities. If they moved from one city to another, a piece for each makes a set. We also have a Nashville skyline.
- Combine a big and a small item: a framed poster for the wall and a keychain for their keys.
Good occasions
Housewarmings, graduations, leaving presents for someone moving away, weddings and anniversaries for couples with a Chicago story, and the holidays. For moving-in gifts in general, see how to buy art for someone else's walls.
Order in time
Each piece is made to order. Allow 2 to 7 business days for production and 3 to 7 business days for US delivery. For a gift with a date attached, order two to three weeks ahead. If you are sending it straight to them, check the address carefully, because a package can't be redirected after it ships. Returns are accepted only for items that arrive damaged, defective or incorrect.
Chicago stays with people. A piece of the skyline on the wall, the desk or the keys is a simple way to say you know that. Browse the canvas, framed poster and tapestry collections for the full range.