Why this Chicago artist says “it just feels like we're on the right path”

When bank day’s a treat

As a child, Louis De Guzman loved piling in the car with his parents on their way to the bank—of all places. That’s because on “bank day,” his parents cashed their paychecks.  

 “When we went to Chase, it meant we could get ice cream afterward—or a hamburger or Portillo's,” said the Chicago native, who is now a celebrated multimedia visual artist and designer whose work appears in exhibitions and galleries across the world.  

Given his warm associations with the regular childhood outing, it makes sense that Louis went to the same Chase branch to get his first personal debit card when he came of age.   

Years later, his career began to gain momentum, including through collaborations with some of the most beloved fashion, music and sports brands.

A colleague and friend, who knew Louis was selling merchandise at pop-up stores and exhibitions, recommended Chase’s point of sale solutions.

“Chase has been there since I was born,” said Louis, who didn’t think twice about following his friend’s advice.

Take your child to work day

Of course, Louis’ parents influenced more than his banking activity.

“My parents were very hard-working and willing to do anything and sacrifice anything to get us by,” he said. “They came here when they were 22 years old from the Philippines. Imagine being 22, coming from a different part of the world, without any promises.”

They modeled a “do whatever it takes” work ethic. His mom, unable to afford nor find a babysitter, brought Louis to craft fairs where she sold her wares. She made seasonal arrangements for the home, including decorative floral arrangements and festive ornament centerpieces for the home.

“It was her side hustle,” he said.

While mom sold crafts, young Louis sat with paper scraps and pencils and quietly drew. And drew. He drew logos, cartoons, sneakers, storybooks and whatever he saw around him. It soon became clear: He was an artist.

Creating immersive experiences

Louis' work pulls inspiration from popular culture, his childhood as a Filipino American and his extensive travels, specifically tours across Asia. 

“Seeing how a different side of the world celebrates art and how they present it is really inspiring,” he said.  

Louis blends sculpture, painting and design to create immersive experiences—not just a painting on the wall or product on a shelf. He has wrapped walls in vinyl wallpaper, for instance, and carpeted floors in astroturf.  

Chase Payment Solutions℠: Getting paid wherever he goes  

In addition to running his own pop-up store, he appears at conferences like ComplexCon, a Las Vegas festival of culture, art, innovation, style and music.  

“At my very first ComplexCon, I was minding the register with the Team,” he said. “It was difficult. I had to type in everyone’s card number manually, and it would hold up the line.”

In 2024, his pop-up store attracted more than 1,000 customers over just three days. At ComplexCon, he sold merchandise and showed work in his largest booth yet. 

To eliminate the slow checkout process, Louis switched to the Chase Card Reader™ and the wireless Chase Point of Sale (POS)™ Terminal.

“Chase Payment Solutions has made everything so seamless,” said Louis.

Now, you won’t find customers waiting in long lines as Louis keys in 3-digit security codes. The Chase Card Reader allows him to walk the floor and take payments immediately, giving him more time to connect with the ComplexCon community and patrons of his art.

The artist and designer also appreciates the Card Reader’s sleek look and feel.

“When we’re showing our work,” he said, “it’s important that everything feels like part of one experience, from the way we hang the work down to our payment solutions. We want every part of our exhibitions to feel thought-through aesthetically. Even our POS system fits into the vibe of the work. You cannot not remember the Card Reader.”

About his relationship with Chase, Louis says: “They’re really easy to work with. They come with a good product. They come with good people and a great team, and they also come with seamless checkout [products].”  

You don’t ever want to let go 

“We're able to continue to grow because of Chase Payment Solutions and what we do as a business,” he said. 

Louis has no plans to stop any time soon. He looks forward to a long career in which he continually finds new ways to express himself and stay inspired.

“It just feels like we're on the right path,” he said. “When you reach your dream—or when you start to see it actually happen—you don't ever want to let go.”