Grace Lai Collection

Grace Lai (1927-2010) was an artist who was known for her watercolor sketches of Chicago's construction sites and the changing skyline. In 1985 she began her "on-site" series of watercolor sketches, which document "the fluid lines of construction crews at work and the changing angles of the cityscape." Her first drawing was of employees of the Turner Construction Company, builders of the high-rise at 190 S. LaSalle. She began the sketch in the early mornings while waiting for her classes at the American Academy of Art to start. The construction crew soon noticed her and invited her to join the crew. She later graduated from the Academy and drew other construction projects at 550 N. State, 35 W. Wacker, 400 E. Ohio, and 400 E. Ontario, among others. She also captured fine details in the changing Chicago skyline from various perspectives. She exhibited her work at the office of Chicago's building commissioner and at the Chicagoland Construction Safety Council.

Grace Lai was the daughter of Chinese immigrants and graduated from Schurz High School in Chicago. Before enrolling at the American Academy of Art she worked with her husband, Henry Lai, in their commercial art studio and served as the Sunday School Superintendent at Chinese Christian Union Church in Chinatown. She closed the studio she had run with her husband after his death in 1985 and began her work as an artist. She died in Chicago on March 16, 2010.

Source: Shelley Hawes-Biejcki, "Chicago's 'Amazing Grace' Chronicles City Construction Projects on Canvas," Dodge Construction News, October 25, 1993.