Fulton Market Through The Cracks - A Photographic Exploration By Eric Masi
Welcome to Fulton Market Through The Cracks, my debut photography exhibition — an ode to Fulton Market, a Chicago neighborhood that's been my creative playground for 32 years. This collection is all about capturing the unique contrast of old warehouses and sleek, modern skyscrapers — a place where the gritty industrial past collides with the shiny, soaring future. It's an homage to architecture, history, texture and culture all in one.
My journey with Fulton Market started long before I picked up a camera. I’ve worked here, founded my agency here, and, yes, even helped developers market their shiny new buildings as they laid claim to pieces of the neighborhood. But today, I’m here as a photographer — finally showing the world my vision of this district as it transforms before our eyes.
Fulton Market has always been a place of rich cultural contrasts: the old meatpacking warehouses and fish markets alongside art galleries, buzzing restaurants, and towering luxury residences - all amidst the clamor of art, bars and food. As a painter-turned-photographer, I’m fascinated by these contradictions. In every frame, you’ll see the remnants of its industrial grit — crumbling brick, rusted steel, and alleyways littered with crates — juxtaposed against the gleaming reflections of glass offices and polished steel condos.
Take one of my favorite shots, for example: A narrow alley framed by crumbling brick, with the shimmering skyline reflected in the glass of a high-rise. It's where the ghosts of Fulton Market's 120-year-old industrial past meet its hip, modern present. I love capturing these moments where history and future collide.
This collection is deeply personal to me. After spending years painting the neighborhood’s rugged charm, I’ve found a new love in photography. It’s quicker, grittier—just like Fulton Market itself. Through my lens, I’m telling the story of a place that’s constantly evolving, yet never losing its edge.
So here it is: Fulton Market in all its urban, rustic, gritty glory. I hope you enjoy exploring it as much as I’ve loved shooting it.
Thank you
Eric Masi - Founder / Torque
