Pekin Public Library takes pride in hosting local artists. In addition to sculptures and paintings on display year-round, we also feature rotating exhibits showcasing local talent.
Sculptures
Located at the main entrance, this stainless steel sculpture by Fisher Stolz represents the physical and cognitive processes in the brain interacting with and responding to the tangible elements of our physical world. The Library Board selected this piece to reflect the library’s vision, and it was funded through private donations.
Outdoor Art
Metal sculptor Orion Richey of Creve Coeur, Illinois, creates spiral sculptures by cutting patterns from plate steel, then fabricating, machining, welding, and painting. This piece was part of the 2021–2022 Peoria Art Guild Sculpture Walk and was later gifted to the library by an anonymous donor.
Artworks & Exhibits
Highlighting Talent
Pekin Public Library offers display spaces for hosting collections of art on loan or gifted by artists from Pekin and the surrounding areas. We display works by individual artists looking to share their hard work with their community, as well as collections made by multiple artists, such as art clubs or school projects. Sometimes, our display spaces are even used to share the products of art-focused library events, educational displays, or other unique works. The Library accepts a range of mediums, such as the following:
Billboard Display
Installed in 2024 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, this mural hangs on the building’s north side along Broadway Street. The image was taken in 1963 during the March on Washington, when Martin Luther King Jr. and other leaders met with Senate Minority Leader Everett Dirksen of Pekin.
This project was made possible in part by discounted installation services from Big Picture Peoria’s contractor, JIMAX Group of Illinois, along with additional funding from the Friends of the Pekin Public Library.
Photo Credit:
UAW Collection: Civil Rights Demonstrations, “March on Washington,” Leaders, 1963. August 28, 1963. (25417)
Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University.
Previous Billboard Display
Greg DePauw was an Art Pop! Peoria 2015 People’s Choice Award winner for his 48′ x 12′ billboard. Now divided into sections and displayed in and around The Lounge, one section of the piece is depicted here.
Inspired by the Sky
Created by Shelley Koenigs of Peoria, this piece was commissioned for the library lobby. Funded by a gift from Ed and Mary Bagley to the Friends of the Pekin Public Library and donations to the library’s gift fund.
Share Your Creations
Display Your Work
Showcase your creativity and share your artwork or photography with the community and help the library promote the arts.
