Love Flows Both Ways at Maxwell Collette Pop-Up Art gallery on State Street: Photo gallery

Photos: Kate Dessa

The Chicago Loop Alliance transforms empty storefronts and public spaces into Pop-Up Art galleries. The project gives Chicago art galleries a free space for a temporary exhibition in higher traffic areas and a chance for those curious about art to get a taste without venturing too far afield. Find a complete guide at PopUpArtLoop.com.

One recent pop-up is a Time Out Chicago neighbor, right on State St. And gallery director Oliver Hild, couldn’t be happier with the project. Moving his pieces from the Maxwell Colette Gallery on Chicago Ave and Halsted St to the loop location has brought an overwhelming amount of walk-throughs since the space opened.

This pop-up location features a who's who of contemporary heavies in what Hild calls "street art," including Banksy, D*Face, Shepard Fairey, Space Invader and Chicago's own Ray Noland—plus the works of a few bonafide pop art stars, Damien Hirst and Keith Haring and a legendary street skater, Mark "Gonzo" Gonzales. The art, which is not necessarily the latest work from the aforementioned artists, is surprisingly affordable in some cases, though not out of line with what other galleries are pricing such work. Skate deck art starts under a hundred bucks and outside of the Harings and a Shepard Fairey, there's quite a lot of work priced under a couple grand. Which means a lot of this artwork isn't nearly as expensive as you might have thought. We suggest buying what you love, not what you think will appreciate.

Stroll in from the street to check out the graffiti-esque artwork and you'll everything from Michael Jackson to Pulp Fiction pop art covering the walls of the old bank building, still complete with basement safe. Hild is happy to tell art enthusiasts and art dummies alike of the wonders of his gallery, so stop in a see what this street art has to offer.

Maxwell Collette's Pop-Up gallery is open 205 S State St, Tue-Sun 11:30am-5:30pm.