Colorful reimagining

In Back of the Yards, a hamburger with eyes, ‘fox demon’ and waving bird paint a once-blank concrete canvas

The viaduct at West 49th and South Honore streets in Back of the Yards used to be just a white wall. Now, thanks to the recent work of a group of street artists, the concrete canvas is filled with a colorful array that includes a threeeyed “fox demon” and a hamburger with arms and legs.

The artist behind the humanlike hamburger goes by the name KOZMO and helped organize the group of artists who painted the wall in April.

She lives a few blocks away and says it was the perfect spot for the group, which came together “spur of the moment, almost like serendipity,” and went to work.

Part of the work features graffiti-style designs by an artist who goes by MATR, with green and yellow letters combining to spell out the artist’s name.

Part of the mural was done by an artist who goes by xhaust and showcases graffiti “wild style” art.

At one end of the work, five characters tower above any passersby. A fat bluebird with hypnotic eyes — the signature work of Pilsen artist bird_milk_ — stands next to a floating wasp by an artist who goes by @m157rocio.

KOZMO’s hamburger with arms, legs and a half smile stands by a blushing avocado — done by an artist who goes by @_avo.cado_ .

KOZMO says she’s been painting since she was around 7 and takes influences that

go back to her childhood.

“I’d get in trouble painting on my walls, clothes, shoes and myself,” KOZMO says.

The viaduct’s hamburger is a variation on her signature “burger flower” character, which she says is a mashup of memories of her parents. The burger represents her dad and the flowers her mom, who would collect dandelions on trips to the park.

KOZMO debuted her burger character in 2015 and has gone back to it as she’s become a full-time artist. Most of her work can be seen in Pilsen, though the “burger flower” character can be found all around the city.

Next to the burger, you see a snarling, brown, three-eyed “fox demon” done by Avondale artist Jeff Pak, known as JPAK4EVER.

Pak, 32, is a graduate of the School of the Art Institute and full-time artist whose work can be seen across the city.

He says he got the inspiration for the character from the popular Japanese manga “Chainsaw Man.”

RYLEE TAN/SUN-TIMES Some of the street art that recently was painted at West 49th and South Honore streets in Back of the Yards.

PROVIDED Jeff Pak

RYLEE TAN/ SUN-TIMES LEFT: This graffitistyle art that’s part of a mural in Back of the Yards was done by an artist who goes by xhaust.

SUN-TIMES RYLEE TAN/ ABOVE: This piece of the mural is by an artist who goes by MATR.