Reporting by Anya Sesay, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
It was almost a no-brainer that local artist Katie Bogan would dedicate her chalk mural at 111 E. Wisconsin Ave. to his glittering portrait. At least that’s what the majority of her Instagram followers told her to do when she asked them which Brewer she should chalk in downtown Milwaukee.
The figure drawing she created depicts the 22-year-old phenom in his white uniform in front of a black backdrop. His face is stern as he glares slightly, and his stance reflects the formidability that led Chourio to going 4 for 5 at the plate as the Brewers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 10-1 in Game 3 on Oct. 26.
Meet Katie Bogan, the chalk artist behind new Brewers mural
Bogan wasn’t much of a baseball fan before this Brewers run. Born in Austin, Texas, she moved to Milwaukee in 2025 and got swept up in the exuberance of the season.
But her newfound love for the Brewers wasn’t what got her the mural gig. Her distinct chalk portraits, rendered with photographic quality and a strikingly soft blend of pastels, caught the attention of the downtown Milwaukee Business Improvement District.
Joining the city-wide Brewers frenzy, the BID commissioned Bogan to bring the energy of a World Series stadium into downtown Milwaukee.
From Oct. 23 through Oct. 25, Bogan chalked live, inviting the public to watch the process unfold.
Passersby, both live and online, have been captivated by the work. Images of the mural have reached tens of thousands of viewers online, with powerhouses like Major League Baseball posting her work on Instagram. Their post alone generated 33,000 likes.
Bogan’s talent is indisputable, but the particular marvel is that she has no interest in becoming a full-time artist.
At a young age, Bogan dedicated her professional life to chemistry and environmental science, a world she keeps mostly separate from her artistic pursuits. Though she’d been making art since before she could ride in the passenger seat, Bogan realized in her teen years that becoming a full-time artist would sometimes require her to sacrifice her artistic license for the preferences of those signing her commission checks.
Soon after, she took an organic chemistry class and formed a bond with science that has endured to this day as the 24-year-old chemist works as an environmental consultant.
Her art is more of a hobby, she said, but she has exhibited chalk murals at several art festivals.
This was her first commission for an event that has no direct tie to art. As Bogan sees it, she hopes the city will continue to invest in independent artists to capture local cultural moments, especially when art seems irrelevant.
“When you do a mural like this, you’re getting exposed to the entire city, and it’s a lot of people who wouldn’t necessarily go out of their way to see art. But then they see it on their normal daily walk and they’re like, wait, this is actually amazing,” Bogan said. “Things like this that aren’t necessarily art-focused. When you bring art into it, it brings a lot of extra engagement and excitement and really opens up the entire city to the possibility of continuing art funding and arts opportunities.
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Anya Sesay covers arts and culture. Send her story ideas, things to see and people to meet at asesay@usatodayco.com. Follow her on Instagram @anyanic0lette.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Meet the Milwaukee artist behind the viral Jackson Chourio chalk mural
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