Deadline to submit Request for Qualifications is Monday, April 13, 2026
Chicago, IL – Chicago’s first permanent non-Native settler Jean Baptiste Point DuSable will be memorialized with a full body, figurative statue to be unveiled at the forthcoming opening of the DuSable Park, near the mouth of the Chicago River and the shore of Lake Michigan at 451 N. Lake Shore Drive.
The Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is currently open to artists or artist teams interested in submitting qualifications for the public art commission at the future 3.44- acre DuSable Park. All artists are welcome, with priority given to Haitian artists or teams, particularly those with strong connections to the Chicago region. The full RFQ can be accessed here.
The Chicago Park District, in partnership with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, is soliciting the design and fabrication of a full body, figurative statue honoring the history and legacy of the Haitian pioneer who established a thriving trading post in Chicago in the late 18th century and was a protagonist in the foundation of the city.
This historically significant project will be a central component of the park that will also feature public art installations offering unique artistic interpretations honoring DuSable, his Potawatomi wife and cultural ambassador Kitihawa and indigenous voices. Interpretive signage, a history timeline, and designed landscapes reflecting the area’s cultural legacy will be key to bringing the park to life.
The budget for this permanent artwork is $498,500, and is inclusive of all costs and fees associated with design, engineering, fabrication, site preparation, installation, and related expenses.
The Chicago Park District will select three finalists from the RFQ submissions to present to an artist selection panel composed of Park District staff and members of the DuSable Park Steering Committee. A $500 honorarium will be provided to the final three candidates to develop the presentation. The chosen artist will be contacted by May 22, 2026.
Artists may submit their RFQ by April 13 at 11:59 p.m. CT.
DuSable Park
DuSable Park is a 3.44-acre peninsula located at the confluence of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan, east of Lake Shore Drive and bounded by the Ogden Slip. The site was created through landfill in the late 19th century and was later dedicated as DuSable Park by Mayor Harold Washington in 1987 to honor Jean Baptiste Point DuSable. Park construction is anticipated to begin in 2026, with completion projected in 2027. This statue must be finalized and installed by the time of the park’s opening.