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Clark Bedoy (right) describes the meaning behind his winning shirt design as CEO Fred Spencer held shirt up, and Chairman Sherri Blount holding grand prize check.
Chicago, IL – August 2024
Market 96 is thrilled to announce the winner of our Neighborhood Artist T-Shirt Design Contest: Clark Bedoy, also known as "Milkman" or simply "Milk." A proud Chicago native, Clark has lived in several neighborhoods across the city, from Pilsen to Belmont Cragin, and now calls Brighton Park home. His deep connection to Chicago’s diverse communities and vibrant culture shines through in his winning design, which has captivated both the judges and the community alike.
A Journey Through Chicago’s Streets and Spirit
At 39 years old, Clark has always had art as a central part of his life. Though he’s only been creating digital art for about a year, his artistic journey began long before, with roots in graffiti-style art. Now, he’s exploring various styles, including caricatures, cross-hatching, and portraits, as he continues to evolve as an artist. His ability to capture the essence of Chicago through his art made him the perfect fit for this contest.
The Winning Design: A Tribute to Chicago’s Heartbeat
Clark’s winning design is a vibrant tribute to Chicago, using the city’s iconic public transit system as a central theme. The artwork features eight trains, each representing one of Chicago’s major train lines: the Red, Blue, Green, Pink, Yellow, Purple, Orange, and Brown lines. The trains are depicted in a loop, symbolizing the South Loop neighborhood where Market 96 is located at 529 S Wells Street.
But this design goes beyond just a visual representation of the city’s transit system. Inside the trains, Clark has illustrated scenes of community life—people enjoying a sunny day, relaxing on park benches, and reveling in the spirit of Chicago. The design is brought together with a color scheme inspired by the Chicago flag, incorporating red, blue, and white, with red weed plants creatively symbolizing the four stars on the flag. The four plants also represent the city’s north, south, west, and east neighborhoods.
At the heart of the design, Clark placed the Market 96 logo, a powerful reminder of how cannabis brings people together, creating a sense of community and connection across the city.
Wear a Piece of Chicago
Clark’s winning design is now available as limited-edition Market 96 merchandise, exclusively at our Chicago location at 529 S Wells Street, Chicago, IL 60607. This T-shirt not only celebrates Chicago’s unique culture but also highlights the role of Market 96 as a community hub in the South Loop. As a dispensary rooted in hospitality and social equity, Market 96 is proud to showcase Clark’s work, which perfectly aligns with our mission to create welcoming spaces where everyone feels valued.
Stay Tuned for More
While Clark’s design took the top prize, some submissions were so impressive that we’ve decided to honor a few more artists as well. Stay tuned as we announce the honorable mentions in the coming weeks!
For more of Clark Bedoy’s incredible art, be sure to follow him on Instagram at @Bedoysquiat. We’re excited to see where his artistic journey takes him next, and we’re proud to have him as the winner of our Neighborhood Artist T-Shirt Design Contest.
