Lines of Memory: Molly Sikora at City Haus Chicago

Written by Gavin Lipinski
Imagine walking through a Better Homes and Garden Magazine in the middle of Chicago. Nestled in one of the posh neighborhoods in town yet surrounded by the hustle of city living, City Haus Chicago stands a cornerstone of interior design. Owners, Anne and Elle Shrader’s River North shop serves as their dreams realized, a store that turns houses into homes. Over the years, they’ve collected the work of more than 30 studios across the United States and abroad, with many Chicago artists showcased for all to see. 

City Haus Chicago expertly creates beautiful spaces and is home to the works of painters, sculptors, and photographers both locally and nationally. One artist whose work truly inspires visitors is Molly Sikora. Molly explores the intersection between music and art, bringing to life the emotions we feel through bold, inspiring paintings and her almost three dimensional works of art, and I had the pleasure of speaking with her at a recent event.

Inside look at a recent event held at City Haus Chicago

Sikora first met the mother-daughter duo at their original location, where she had been invited by another fellow artist. 

“I came in on one night for their artist nights, and I met the gals. Soon after, I started showing my work here,” Sikora explained. Connected by their shared hometowns of Iowa, Sikora found a community with Anne and Elle through the growing network City Haus has built. And they even enjoy a charcuterie right there in the store while catching up.

Sikora’s previous works explored ideas of florals and fashion, but more recently, her work has begun to become more abstract, exploring linework. 

“My theory is that music that you listen to before you turn eight years old is your natural rhythm,” she said. “So when you're swaying, it's just in us from the music.” Sikora is more of a natural waltz while her husband is more of a polka style of dance, this comes from the differing ways in which they spent childhoods. Sikora says that the origins of our moves can come from the music our parents played for us when we were younger. 

Still shot from a video I took scanning Molly’s work inside City Haus Chicago. (to the right).

“I take that theory a step further, and I say that the shapes and the things around us before eight years old also are stamped in us.” For her, she thinks of the parallel lines of her fathers farm where she grew up. 

“Constant corn and soybean,” she recalled. These shapes followed her through life, as she often doodled lines on the corner of her math papers while she was in school. 

“Eventually I came to this realization that [what’s] in my dreams, when I close my eyes, I'm walking [through the] beans. Which I feel like most people from the city don't even know,” she laughs. “Most people would never think, ‘that’s a cornfield’.” 

Layers of thick paint slathered in white lines upon fields of black paint. Lines dot the landscape, almost haphazardly strown about the work. The smoothness of the Yupo paper creates a serene stillness. These are feelings that begin to take shape after observing Sikora’s paintings. Her primal feelings of childhood and home conjured through beautiful juxtaposition for all to see. 

“My degree is in fine art photography. So, I’ve worked in the dark room before. There, I discovered that painting, for me, is a similar experience as the dark room; you're putting it on and then you're scraping it off,” she explained. Sikora’s degree gives her a viewpoint into painting which translates into stunning works of art. 

The physicality of her work is apparent, with Sikora listening to music when painting - her rhythmic sways often making their way into her paintings, further enhancing the almost nostalgic feeling to her pieces. 

“For me, I know that if I don't paint, I feel like it's a tick inside,” she said. “I feel like I have to paint.” 

For Sikora, art comes to her naturally– from emotions, to shapes and the sounds that have followed her from childhood. 

“I'm 40 and feeling the joy of life, being alive and getting to do this,” she said. “The fact that I can be an artist, and get paid for it, and put things out into the world that I love, I don't think there's anything more wonderful.” 

All Things Go 1 collection at City Haus Chicago.

One of our favorite pieces currently on display at City Haus is All Things Go 1. The first in a series of paintings, these truly feel like quintessential Sikora pieces with its lines and shapes that hint toward a piece of her past. While lines aren’t her only motif, the line work is strong. The disjointed patches of white lines fragment what your brain tries to make sense of– a piece of work you can spend hours looking upon! Each one of SIkora’s pieces are one-of-one and make a wonderful investment into your art collection! 

You’ll be able to see Molly’s work and more at our upcoming collaboration with City Haus on September 10th! Stay tuned!