The Maynard Chicago Street Photography Installation

At The Maynard, a beautifully restored 1926 timber-frame building on Chicago’s North Side lakefront, Tim Kleincreated a visual experience that connects past and present through the lens of everyday city life. His contribution to the building’s office lobby and common spaces includes a 28-piece installation of black and white street photography, capturing the rhythm and nuance of a day in Chicago.

The photographs present a candid and compelling portrait of the city: a cyclist speeding past a brick façade, a child peering through a bus window, sun cutting across elevated train tracks, and moments of stillness amid movement. Each image reflects Klein’s signature approach—documenting unscripted urban life with clarity, empathy, and architectural awareness.

In the lobby, the framed photographs are presented in a clean, grid-style arrangement, providing a bold focal point that greets residents and guests with energy and atmosphere. In the hallways and shared common areas, the work is displayed in sequences and clusters, giving each passage its own visual rhythm. The black and white palette complements the building’s blend of historic woodwork, neutral tones, and minimalist modern finishes.

As residents move through The Maynard, the photography becomes an evolving narrative—anchoring them in place while reflecting the city's motion just outside. The installation enhances the sense of community and continuity, resonating with the building’s architectural roots and the lives of the people who call it home.