David Lee Csicsko retrospective opens during Pride month

The work of Chicago artist David Lee Csicsko takes center stage at the Chase Gallery in " Mr. Fancy Pants: A Celebration of LGBTQ+ Icons " opening Friday.

Why it matters: Csicsko's art has become interwoven into Chicago's fabric with mosaics at the Belmont Red Line station , designs on Mariano's shopping bags, posters for the City of Chicago, Gay Games logo designs, and murals in local schools, churches and other institutions.

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• He's also the visual force behind inclusive books " The Skin I Live In " and " LGBTQ+ Icons ."
• The show offers a 35-year retrospective of the artist's recognizable bold and playful designs.

Portraits of Dusty Springfield, Josephine Baker and Keith Haring by David Lee Csicsko hang in the Chase Gallery. Photo courtesy of David Lee Csicsko

What they're saying: "I feel lucky to earn my living making pictures, fully believing that you can change the world, one picture at a time," Csicsko tells Axios.

• "With all the harsh complexities of our culture, I feel the need to make images celebrating our humanity and our communities. We all need to see joy and to smile, in these dark times."

If you go: " Mr. Fancy Pants " runs through July 27 in the Chase Gallery at the Epiphany Center for the Arts.