Waiting for a bus along Harlem near the Ike. That’s the latest place to spot The Cereal Buddy. In this incarnation, the blue boxy fellow graces a bus bench. But you can also catch him among the wall of murals on South Boulevard. And in Berwyn, on Michigan Avenue, in Lakeview, Pilsen, Logan Square and Lincoln Park. Among other places.
For a box with spindly legs, the Cereal Buddy gets around.
He is the creation of Vanessa (Nez) Garza an Oak Park artist who has been painting murals since 2020. Garza is also an editorial page designer for Growing Community Media.
In fact, you’ll spot this fellow on the Circle Avenue bridge in Forest Park after we asked Garza to paint the Forest Park Review’s contribution to the mural covered overpass.
You can also see her murals on the Metra embankment near Oak Park Avenue.
Garza said the inspiration for her character came from other Chicago-based muralists with recurring characters including Sentrock and JC Rivera.
The bus bench on Harlem was commissioned by Pace, the suburban bus company, in honor of its 40th anniversary. And the little blue triangles on the bench do subconsciously urge you to board a bus using your Ventra card.
