PILSEN — Street artist Caesar Perez is taking a break from designing large-scale murals in European locales to work with a different medium — an aluminum can.
The Pilsen native, who grew up break dancing and composing graffiti in the neighborhood, is one of 30 artists from across the country participating in Red Bull's Art of Can exhibition. The show opens Friday morning at the Chase Promenade South at Millennium Park and runs through Nov. 16.
The contest asked artists to create pieces of art using only Red Bull cans as their primary material. Perez's mixed-media sculpture, called "Bird of Paradise," is inspired by the exotic birds of Central and South America. Made of shredded cans, pop tabs and pieces of the cardboard boxes Red Bull is packaged in, the sculpture is the smallest piece he has ever welded.
The change of pace was welcomed, Perez said while setting up his display at the park Thursday.
"I like to work with different mediums," said the artist, who is known by the moniker Czr Prz. "Making sculptures takes me out of my comfort zone."
When the 34-year-old is not in other countries painting large-scale murals, the painter is the creative force behind Ava Grey, a Chicago-based design and fabrication company. Right now, he's also working out of Mana Contemporary, an art center at 2233 S. Throop St. in Pilsen.
Perez's Cuban-Mexican upbringing remains a heavy influence in his work, but lately he's been working with nature-based themes, he said. Before he started working on his can sculpture, Perez was in Italy this summer, completing his first solo show in the country and working on a large-scale mural.
When he has time, the artist is anxious to get back to work in Pilsen. He plans to work on a mural at the 16th Street viaducts that will likely feature a children and animals theme in the coming months.
Red Bull's video team used Pilsen's art scene as a backdrop to preview the Millennium Park event. In October, they released a video featuring artist Floyd Davis who runs Artpentry in Pilsen, and this week, Perez took the team on a tour of his neighborhood. The video tour also features Thalia Hall's Bruce Finkelman and Juan Soto of the Pilsen Neighborhood Council.
More than 300 artists submitted concepts to Red Bull this summer, and a panel of six judges selected 30 pieces to be featured at Art of Can event. The judges plan to reveal the top three pieces Friday.
Chicago artists Asta Razma, John Hergert, Lional Freeman and Milton Mizenburg are also exhibiting work at Art of Can.
The exposition will be open Monday through Friday 7 a.m.-10 p.m. weekdays; 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturdays and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays at the Chase Promenade South at Millennium Park.
Want to preview Perez's sculpture and work from other finalists? Check out our slideshow.
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