Ricardo Santos Hernández
Ricardo's Art Studio artwork by Ricardo Santos Hernández

Artwork

Ricardo's Art Studio

Ricardo's studio is housed on the 6th floor of the Clock Tower Industrial Park — formally known as the Central Manufacturing Union Freight Station in McKinley Park, Chicago.

This mammoth group of buildings has served many functions across its history: the Army Consolidation Station during World War II, the home of catalog giant Spiegel, and the filming location for Chicago Fire, Divergent, and Hoffa. It sits next to the railroad hub — the largest in North America.

Ricardo has called this studio his second home for 15 years — spending countless hours producing his artwork alongside his companion, Kitty the Studio Cat.

Clock Tower Industrial Park — The iconic clock tower rises above McKinley Park with the Chicago skyline stretching to the horizon. This is the view from Ricardo's 6th floor studio — a daily reminder of the city that has shaped his work for over 15 years.
Clock Tower Industrial Park — The iconic clock tower rises above McKinley Park with the Chicago skyline stretching to the horizon. This is the view from Ricardo's 6th floor studio — a daily reminder of the city that has shaped his work for over 15 years.
Clock Tower Industrial Park — The full complex from the grounds, showing the scale of this mammoth group of buildings. Formally known as the Central Manufacturing Union Freight Station, the complex has served as the Army Consolidation Station during WWII, the home of catalog giant Spiegel, and the filming location for Chicago Fire, Divergent, and Hoffa.
Clock Tower Industrial Park — The full complex from the grounds, showing the scale of this mammoth group of buildings. Formally known as the Central Manufacturing Union Freight Station, the complex has served as the Army Consolidation Station during WWII, the home of catalog giant Spiegel, and the filming location for Chicago Fire, Divergent, and Hoffa.
Divergent (2014) — Actor Veronica Roth on location at the Clock Tower Industrial Park. The complex's dramatic architecture has made it a sought-after filming location, appearing in Chicago Fire, Divergent, and Hoffa.
Divergent (2014) — Actor Veronica Roth on location at the Clock Tower Industrial Park. The complex's dramatic architecture has made it a sought-after filming location, appearing in Chicago Fire, Divergent, and Hoffa.
Central Manufacturing District Union Freight Station — The historic facade of the building that has housed many lives: wartime logistics, a catalog empire, Hollywood productions, and now a community of artists. Ricardo's studio has occupied the 6th floor for 15 years.
Central Manufacturing District Union Freight Station — The historic facade of the building that has housed many lives: wartime logistics, a catalog empire, Hollywood productions, and now a community of artists. Ricardo's studio has occupied the 6th floor for 15 years.
Kitty the Studio Cat — Ricardo's companion and constant presence in the studio. Every great artist has a witness.
Kitty the Studio Cat — Ricardo's companion and constant presence in the studio. Every great artist has a witness.
Kitty in the Studio — The studio cat surveys the workspace from her perch, overseeing the work in progress on the 6th floor of the Clock Tower.
Kitty in the Studio — The studio cat surveys the workspace from her perch, overseeing the work in progress on the 6th floor of the Clock Tower.
The Railway Hub — The view from Ricardo's studio window looking out over the largest North American railroad hub. Freight trains, shipping containers, and the vast industrial landscape stretch to the horizon — a daily panorama that has informed his work on urbanism, labor, and the movement of people and goods.
The Railway Hub — The view from Ricardo's studio window looking out over the largest North American railroad hub. Freight trains, shipping containers, and the vast industrial landscape stretch to the horizon — a daily panorama that has informed his work on urbanism, labor, and the movement of people and goods.
Works in Progress — The studio wall covered in drawings, sketches, and studies alongside a canvas in progress on the easel. A living archive of ideas, experiments, and evolving works that document Ricardo's creative process.
Works in Progress — The studio wall covered in drawings, sketches, and studies alongside a canvas in progress on the easel. A living archive of ideas, experiments, and evolving works that document Ricardo's creative process.
Studio Floor — Large-scale charcoal drawings and mixed-media installation panels in progress on the studio floor. These monumental works — featuring skulls, ghostly figures, and fighter jets — reflect Ricardo's ongoing engagement with war, memory, and resistance.
Studio Floor — Large-scale charcoal drawings and mixed-media installation panels in progress on the studio floor. These monumental works — featuring skulls, ghostly figures, and fighter jets — reflect Ricardo's ongoing engagement with war, memory, and resistance.
Ricardo at Work — The artist in his studio, palette in hand, a large canvas in progress behind him. A place of intense work, problem solving, and inspiration.
Ricardo at Work — The artist in his studio, palette in hand, a large canvas in progress behind him. A place of intense work, problem solving, and inspiration.
Chicago Fire Filming at Clock Tower Industrial Park — The NBC television series Chicago Fire recently filmed on location at the Clock Tower Industrial Park, Ricardo's studio home. A ladder truck from Engine 81 extends toward the roofline between the iconic C and B brick facades as smoke rises for the cameras. The building that houses Ricardo's sixth-floor studio doubles as a set — its century-old industrial architecture, arched windows, and weathered brick a natural backdrop for the drama of the city. A reminder that the Clock Tower is not just a place of art-making but a living piece of Chicago's history.
Chicago Fire Filming at Clock Tower Industrial Park — The NBC television series Chicago Fire recently filmed on location at the Clock Tower Industrial Park, Ricardo's studio home. A ladder truck from Engine 81 extends toward the roofline between the iconic C and B brick facades as smoke rises for the cameras. The building that houses Ricardo's sixth-floor studio doubles as a set — its century-old industrial architecture, arched windows, and weathered brick a natural backdrop for the drama of the city. A reminder that the Clock Tower is not just a place of art-making but a living piece of Chicago's history.

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