Ronnie Frey is the creative visionary behind the popular Instagram account @doorwaysofchicago, a visual archive that elevates the mundane into the magnificent. With a keen eye for detail and a deep love for Chicago’s layered architectural history, Ronnie captures more than just doors and buildings—he captures atmosphere, memory, and soul. From the gritty to the pretty, nothing is too ordinary to catch his attention. 

What began as a spontaneous photograph of a small, bright blue door in the UK has grown into a full-fledged artistic journey. On his first trip to England, a vivid door in a prison-like stone wall near the Royal Citadel in Plymouth stopped him cold. Despite jet lag and rain, he returned alone, umbrella flipping inside out, determined to capture it. That photo wasn’t just a moment. It was a calling. 

Back in Chicago, he began seeing the city differently. On lunch breaks, he wandered historic neighborhoods, snapping doorways, cornices, arches, and façades—details many overlook. Within a few months, @doorwaysofchicago was born. 

While doors remain at the heart of his work, the project has evolved. His feed now highlights architectural gems, neon and ghost signs, murals, sculptures—anything vintage that tells a story. Planes, trains, and automobiles roll through too (after all, they have doors). 

His background in interior design gives his compositions a layered sensibility. As a walking tour guide and historic storyteller, he brings that same passion to the streets of Chicago, leading groups through Wicker Park, the Loop, and Old Town. 

Now based in a studio inside the landmark Fine Arts Building, Ronnie draws inspiration from his surroundings—a place where artistry, legacy, and creative energy meet. His work is a meditative practice, an act of urban preservation, and a joyful celebration of the beauty hiding in plain sight. 

Instagram: @doorwaysofchicago