The designs available from Thematic Wallpaper Company are not the typical floral prints, stripes or decorative patterns. Christine Tarkowski, the artist who started the business a year and a half ago, uses illustrations and photographs of everything from rose stems to ground beef to create her distinctive patterns, screen-printed by hand.
“Much of the imagery I use looks familiar but you’ll never know what it is,” says Tarkowski, noting a paper with images of volcanic clouds floating over wrought-iron fencing.
Many of Tarkowski’s patterns began as site-specific designs. One, using the image of a woman’s hand shaped to form a house, was created for the Community Emergency Shelter Organization.
Tarkowski offers a standard line of papers but she can design new color combinations, create a custom pattern and print on fabric as well as paper. Wallpaper prices are based on the number of colors in a given design: for example, the price for two colors is $4 per square foot; for six Color, $12 a square foot.
Papers are available at Jean Alan, 2062 N. Damen Ave., 312-278-2345, or Thematic Wallpaper Co., 2725 S. Archer Ave., 312-225-4145.
