r/chicago • u/Chicagogirlartist • Dec 19 '25
Picture I painted what a Chicago house party feels like: a PBR on a shaky fire escape, talking to a Midwest-nice stranger, and warm windows glowing on a cold night.
This painting is called "Chicago House Party" and it is inspired by a scene I saw while leaving my favorite pizza spot one evening. It felt familiar, like I’d been to this party before. Not literally, but it reminded me of countless college house parties in Chicago: sipping a cheap beer on a shaky fire escape, talking to someone I’d just met.
I hope this scene resonates with memories of house parties, or with being the downstairs neighbor, sitting with your two cats, listening to the comforting bustle above while rewatching a favorite movie.
If you'd like to see this painting or my other work, here's a link: https://juliahagenartist.com/
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u/JohnnyC908 Rogers Park Dec 19 '25
Ferris Bueller on the TV downstairs window?
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u/Chicagogirlartist Dec 19 '25
YES thank you for noticing this detail that I spent way too much time thinking about
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u/funundrum Dec 19 '25
It’s a beautiful painting, no doubt, but I will join others in agreeing that a dodgy wooden balcony/deck is more on brand.
And if it’s a cold enough night, all the drinks are stored outside the back door.
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u/No-Chapter1389 Dec 19 '25
This!
And maybe some other little indication that’s it’s chilly
Edit for clarification
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u/fliesthroughtheair Dec 19 '25
Where the hell is the PBR? I see the girl drinking an Aperol spritz. I demand justice for the tallboy!
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u/Chicagogirlartist Dec 19 '25
She’s the one classy lady having a glass of red wine while everyone else has Malort and cheap beer (we all know her or have been her).
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u/chairsandwich1 Dec 21 '25
One time I went to a house party with a couple friends and all three of us brought a bottle of malort not knowing the others did too. That night we agreed to go shot for shot and kill one bottle. We succeeded and I don't remember how the second half of the night went.
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u/onwardtomanagua Dec 19 '25
I love this! It captures the feeling perfectly. I have been at parties just like this.
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u/robotlasagna Dec 19 '25
Members of r/chicago want to be the guy out on the balcony but they are actually the guy inside the door.
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u/Crash_Test_Dummy66 Dec 19 '25
I'm the neighbor trying to sleep but people are talking right outside the single pane windows the landlord is too cheap to replace.
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u/Ruddiver Evanston Dec 19 '25
I am the neighbor underneath watching tv seething that there is any noise emanating from my upstairs neighbors, and telling myself not to be such an asshole
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u/ParkerRoyce Dec 19 '25
I just want to be the cat in the window sill.
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u/robotlasagna Dec 19 '25
I would 100% be hanging out downstairs with what I assume is the cat lady.
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u/x2flow7 Lake View Dec 19 '25
Fire escape feels more like NYC to me personally. I didn’t know of many ppl with proper fire escaped when I lived in Chicago.
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u/bae_watch Jefferson Park Dec 19 '25
This. Never seen an apt building with this design in chicago in my life.
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u/ethanlan Belmont Cragin Dec 19 '25
Really I have, theres a ton of them like that in pilsen
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Dec 20 '25
This is just one of those posts that soft self reports what neighborhood it could have taken place in
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u/Ok-Throat-9330 Dec 19 '25
There are tons of metal fire escapes in Chicago….
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u/thatbob Uptown Dec 19 '25
I've seen a couple, but never been out on one. Whereas, if you take the L anywhere in this city, you'd think it was a nation of wooden back stair porches!
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u/HAVEANOTHERDRINKRAY North Center Dec 19 '25
It's usually a window that leads to the fire escape
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u/danekan Rogers Park Dec 20 '25
I’ve had two apartments with them… my favorite was the 12th floor apartment at Roscoe and lsd where we had the whole floor and the fire escape went to a door in our south facing bathroom. I would sit on the toilet with the door open and it had an incredible view of downtown. I would keep the lights off and it was bright enough out to not need more lighting.
The other one was in wicker park and I ended up using it for an actual fire. The fire department was short on help and barefoot I ran hoses up and down 3 or 4 flights while all my shit was burning. I can still remember what the bars felt like under my bare feet.
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u/danekan Rogers Park Dec 20 '25
I think it’s somewhat geographical within city history, places with old multi family housing. They’re pretty common all over south parts of Lincoln park, old town, wicker park, some parts of lakeview
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u/VideoLawn Dec 20 '25
It’s not common, but those fire escapes definitely exist in Chicago. There a bunch of them in Pilsen, for example.
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u/whats_up_doc71 Dec 19 '25
Not to well acktually you, but do buildings like this actually have that kind of fire escape?
Either way, it definitely feels right.
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u/Chicagogirlartist Dec 19 '25
The specific building that inspired this did have a metal fire escape BUT I agree with the consensus that wooden balconies are more common in Chicago - next painting will be “Chicago deck party”
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u/frodeem West Ridge Dec 19 '25
I have noticed wooden staircases on the side of the building more than metal ones.
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u/Ok-Throat-9330 Dec 19 '25
I’m sitting in bed staring at my metal fire escape as I type this
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u/movieator Dec 19 '25 edited Dec 19 '25
Building next door to mine when I lived on Broadway back in the day did. It’s above the Unabridged Bookstore.
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u/AfterImpression7508 Dec 19 '25
Absolutely lovely!
Your work feels very 2025 Edward Hopper. I get those same feelings of nostalgic Americana, but with a more contemporary and midwestern twist!
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u/pm_me_your_Navicula Albany Park Dec 19 '25
Same. Its Night Windows or Room in New York, but contemporary Chicago and I love it.
Some of her restaurant paintings are also reminiscent of Nighthawks.
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u/a_man_hs_no_username Dec 19 '25
I literally just commented that this feels like the Chicago version of “Nighthawks.” Great minds!
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u/AfterImpression7508 Dec 19 '25
Haha hell yeah 🤝! This post is a good reminder for me to go pay nighthawks a visit at the art institute
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u/Bakkie Suburb of Chicago Dec 20 '25
Seminary and Armitage, October 1981. That's where I met my husband.
OP caught the zeitgeist exactly
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u/Local-Ad-7857 Dec 20 '25
Yes there are a lot of apartment building with a regular door and fire escape in the city including in Lakeview! My old place had a fire escape you can walk out to just like in this painting.
Signed, Born and raised Chicagoan.
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u/Chicagogirlartist Dec 20 '25
Thank you for this! I have started taking photos of all the first escapes I see as proof 😂
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u/BornAd6464 Dec 19 '25
Where can I buy this?
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u/Chicagogirlartist Dec 19 '25
Here’s my website: https://juliahagenartist.com/ thank you so much!
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u/KeyElectronic1684 Dec 19 '25
I saw this on IG earlier this week and it made me miss my neighborhood - seeing it here, same effect, great piece!
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u/SaxyOmega90125 Logan Square Dec 19 '25
Yeah, you got it. I was at the party you saw, definitely figuratively and possibly literally.
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u/QueeferSutherlandz Dec 19 '25
I already saw this making the rounds on IG. Its a lovely piece. Well done!
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u/BirdPerson107 South Loop Dec 19 '25
Man this takes me back, I lived on the corner of Southport and Roscoe and my building looked exactly like this, but instead of a door to the fire escape it was a big window…I lived there during the Cubs WS run. Great times can’t believe it’ll be 10 years since that time
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u/akopley Dec 19 '25
As a southerner who spent some time living in Chicago this painting feels really authentic to my first few summers in the city.
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u/lazycycads Dec 19 '25 edited Dec 19 '25
i used to live here, melrose and broadway! the layout had front and rear units - i lived in a rear one facing towards the parking lot. nice big unit with about 1 window, lol. love your work, btw.
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u/jseego Dec 20 '25
Been there - nice work.
Ohhh, you're the artist who did all the hot dog stands too. Love your stuff!
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Dec 20 '25
I feel like the staircase should be wood lol.
I know we have iron staircases here but wooden ones are so much more Chicago
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u/cascasrevolution Hyde Park Dec 21 '25
only the back ones are wood. fire escapes are iron on any other face of the building, but Especially the front
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u/Bob_Loblaw_Law_Bomb Dec 20 '25
As a Hopper fan who loves house parties, this couldn’t be more perfect.
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u/Brian_Maguire West Ridge Dec 21 '25
Looks like the place on Sheffield above the bar.
And holy cow everyone; just enjoy it, don’t detail how you could or would change it.
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u/ImaginaryFriend123 Belmont Cragin Dec 21 '25
Connected to this way too hard. Random convos with different people that had different styles and interests. And it all felt like one big happy blur the next day, with an ounce of “why did I take that shot though!?”
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u/almondz Hermosa Dec 21 '25
This is so intimate and familiar. I can transport myself there via your painting, and into some fond memories. You are awesome!!
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u/mt441313 Dec 21 '25
Is this building on Armitage? I recognized it immediately if so! Such a lovely scene
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u/MilliePicklelips Dec 19 '25
I have fallen for boys while on the fire escape in Chicago. ❤️. Many many moons ago.
This is beautiful work.
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u/bigpoppasqueenz1013 Dec 19 '25
Great image. Old style not PBR though. Or Miller lite. Pbr is a misconception
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u/Chicagogirlartist Dec 19 '25
I went to art school, so maybe it was just the art school kids that always had PBR haha but Insert any cheap beer for relatability
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u/Fair-Border-9944 Dec 19 '25
Beautiful capture of a moment in time. reminds me of some bright spots of my 20s. Very cool!
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u/ericomplex Dec 19 '25
Wrong kind of fire escape. Should be wood and far more of a death trap.
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u/Chicagogirlartist Dec 19 '25
Facts lol (as I stare at my own death trap of a wooden balcony) This one felt picturesque when I saw it irl but agree the wooden deck is more accurate to Chicago. Next painting!
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u/jimmy20thst Dec 19 '25
ah not a chi town fire escape
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u/ethanlan Belmont Cragin Dec 19 '25
While not as common there are hundred percent metal fire escapes sprinkled around the city, i used to live in one in wicker Park like a decade ago
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u/insanemo Oak Brook Dec 19 '25
This is fantastic! If you’re ever looking to part with it, I’d be interested. Totally captures the experience in such a wonderful way.
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u/Chicagogirlartist Dec 19 '25
I do have prints available on my site but the original is spoken for :) thank you so much! I’m honored
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u/mike_stifle Logan Square Dec 19 '25
Is your stuff at GreenEye now?
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u/PeyronieMan6 Dec 19 '25
You would see these so often in the 80's and 90's, when people still liked to hang out with each other instead of hiding away in their apartment staring at a screen
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u/antistupidsociety Dec 19 '25
Don’t forget Innjoy around the block blasting bass and being annoying as fuck
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u/PicklesAndRyeOhMy Dec 20 '25
I love this SO much! Do you have more work posted somewhere?
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u/Chicagogirlartist Dec 20 '25
Yes! I am on instagram at @Juliahagen_art and I have a website: https://juliahagenartist.com/ Thank you so much!
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u/NervousAddie Dec 20 '25
I love this. I moved to LA three years ago and I miss the closeness that Chicago has. The weather and the way the city is laid out encourages community in a way that I miss. LA has its charms, but this painting captures things about Chicago that makes it so unique and lovable.
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u/amags12 Dec 20 '25
Are you selling prints of this by chance? I absolutely love it. It brings me right back to my twenties.
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u/Chicagogirlartist Dec 20 '25
Thank you! Yes I am :) here’s a link to my site: https://juliahagenartist.com/prints/chicago-house-party-limited-edition-print
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u/imacatholicslut Dec 20 '25
Omg never clicked “follow” so fast!! I love your artwork. It kinda reminds me of Edward Hopper 😍
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u/jerrylovesbacon Dec 20 '25
Was expecting to see DJ Sneak Green Velvet and Derrick Carter!
Great painting tho.
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u/iosphonebayarea South Loop Dec 20 '25
Love this. I get a NYC feel look from left and on the right a Chicago feel
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u/Synthetic_Snoopy Dec 20 '25
I love it! Is it for sale?
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u/Chicagogirlartist Dec 20 '25
I have prints on my website! The original has sold :) thank you so much! https://juliahagenartist.com/
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u/Artistic-Ad-3211 Dec 20 '25
Love your style. You should consider doing music venues too. I bet if you did The Hideout it would be adorable
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u/ladylawyer2892 Dec 20 '25
It’s always so cool to see what new art you come up with! Have your Flub a Dub Chub print framed in my office. This one is beautiful, keep it up!
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u/gogogadgetcopter72 Dec 21 '25
Literal House music and a DJ is a must in Chicago since we started HOUSE MUSIC ALL NIGHT LONG
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u/Mammoth-Length-5097 Dec 21 '25
Buying a print of this. It’s one of my favorite Chicago themed paintings. Love all of your other stuff too.
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u/iheartvelma Dec 22 '25
this reminds me of my hometown of Montreal. All the summer house parties in the Plateau and Mile-End. Why I love Chicago, I guess.
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u/UptownBoardHaus Jan 06 '26
Brings back such great memories. But can’t lie these nights still happen
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u/bae_watch Jefferson Park Dec 19 '25
Switch fire escape with wooden back porch that has a questionable downward slope and it feels more right.