JEFFERSON PARK — Jefferson Park’s newest gallery owner wants to bring more creative spaces to the Far Northwest Side.
J.G. Singhal opened Mavra, a two-story contemporary gallery and art shop, 5338 W. Lawrence Ave., in early August.
Mavra Gallery as seen on Aug. 28, 2026. Credit: Molly DeVore/ Block Club Chicago
Singhal moved to Jefferson Park two-and-a-half years ago, after graduating from Northwestern University. She said she fell in love with the neighborhood, but noticed there were a lot of vacant storefronts along Lawrence and Milwaukee avenues, and not many art spaces at that time.
“I found myself commuting to Logan Square, or Downtown, or Pilsen to go to arts events,” Singhal said.
Singhal saved about $25,000 to open the gallery, and her roommate contributed about $4,000 to get it off the ground. The gallery is named after Mavra, a comic opera by Igor Stravinsky, who had Polish roots. Singhal said she wanted the gallery’s name to pay homage to the Jefferson Park’s Polish history.
The 24-year-old studied sociology and social statistics, but said she’s always loved learning about and creating art. She started looking around the neighborhood for potential gallery spaces at the start of the year and eventually found a storefront just a few minutes from her house.
Mavra Gallery as seen on Aug. 28, 2026. Credit: Molly DeVore/ Block Club Chicago
Singhal recruited a team of friends and spent two weeks cleaning the space up before launching the gallery’s first show, “Perfect Disk,” which runs through Sept. 18.
Raine Lysiak, 26, is part of the “Perfect Disk” show and is displaying her art for the very first time. Many of Lysiak’s pieces are animatronic puppets she created by tinkering with toys bought at Goodwill and old Christmas decorations.
Lysiak said she grew up in “a big Jim Henson household” and watched a lot of movies that featured puppetry like “The Dark Crystal” and “Labyrinth,” two movies directed by Henson, most well-known today for his creation of the Muppets, the style of puppets used on “Sesame Street” and elsewhere.
After being diagnosed with autism in high school, Lysiak said she felt “socially doomed” and turned toward puppetry as a distraction.
“Oddly enough, the hobby that I started out of loneliness, brought me friends who are also very passionate about similar things,” Lysiak said.
Raine Lysiak at Mavra Gallery on Aug. 28, 2026. Credit: Molly DeVore/ Block Club Chicago
Singhal said it can be hard for newer artists to break in to the gallery scene. She said she wants Mavra to be a place where local artists can have “their time in the sun.”
Mavra’s next show opens Sept. 26 and will feature apocalypse-inspired drawings from more than 40 artists. Singhal said her goal is to have about eight shows a year.
She said the gallery has gotten a warm reception from neighbors.
“I think people are really hungry to see development and art here,” Singhal said.
Jefferson Park is home to a growing arts community. Both Aponte Art Gallery and Seventh Corner Gallery opened in the neighborhood in 2024. Last fall, a sculpture walk connecting Jefferson Park and Portage Park was installed along Milwaukee Avenue.
Singhal said she hopes Mavra will help “jumpstart” the creation of even more creative spaces in the neighborhood.
“There is so much culture and opportunity here and I would love to see the creation of a thriving arts ecosystem,” she said. “I want to keep bringing more art to where people are.”
Mavra is open noon-6 p.m., Thursday-Sunday. You can check out the gallery’s website here and follow Mavra on instagram here.
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