Art and Exhibits in the Library
On Display Now
Black History Month Community Art Exhibit
On display on the 3rd floor of the Main Library from February 6 - February 28.
Join us for a Reception on Tuesday, February 17 from 5:00 - 7: 00 pm.
In honor of Black History Month 2026, EPL invited artists and creatives to submit original works that highlight and recognize the lived experience and enduring spirit of Black history and culture. This year’s national theme, designated by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, is “A Century of Black History Commemorations,” encouraging reflection on how Black history and life commemorations continue to shape the modern world.
The exhibit features community-submitted works across a wide range of artistic expression, including painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, textile, decorative arts, digital art and design, and poetry.
Let Freedom Read Dress
On display on the 3rd floor of the Main Library from January 21 - March 18.
This handmade gown is a statement piece against censorship, created to raise awareness about book bans. It features the titles of the American Library Association’s 13 most frequently challenged books of 2022, with letter sizes scaled to reflect how often each title was challenged—larger text representing greater levels of censorship.
Requiring nearly 200 hours of labor, the gown's design combines early 19th-century dress with punk-inspired aesthetics. It is constructed from 13.5 yards of silk taffeta and incorporates 241 embroidered or appliquéd letters.
Commissioned in part by University of Utah's library, the gown was created by Kirby Gene Anderson, a Salt Lake City technical fashion designer, and Rachel Jane Wittmann, a digital librarian and data mapper at the University of Utah. Modeled by drag artist Gia Bianca Stephens (photo).
Our Permanent Collection
The Evanston Public Library is proud to house a permanent collection of public art that celebrates creativity, community, and cultural expression.
Public art enriches our shared spaces, sparks dialogue, and makes the library a more welcoming and inspiring place for all.
Exterior
Sidewalk Poetry
The Poetic Foot by Alicia Berneche
Snowflakes by Susan Gundlach
Clark Street Beach by Charlotte Hart
Research by Ethan Plaut
Poem by Toby Sachs
Completed with funds from the Washington National Tax Increment Financing District
Location: Front ramp sidewalk
Western Facade
Richard Hunt (American b.1935)
Bookends, 1997
Stainless steel
Purchased with funds from the Edward Johnson Endowment Fund
Location: Western facade
First Floor Lobby
Ralph Helmick (American b.1952) and Stuart Schechter (American b.1958)
Ghost Writer, 1994
Cast metal and stainless metal
Commissioned with funds from the City of Evanston Public Art Program
Location: Grand Staircase
Michele Oka Doner (American b.1945)
Book Leaves
Cast bronze in terrazzo
Commissioned with funds from the City of Evanston Public Art Program
Location: 1st floor, lobby
Children's Area
Brian Pinkney (American b. 1961 )
“A Strong Breeze Shook the Tree…”
Oil on board
16”x10”
Purchased with funds from the Edward Johnson Endowment Fund
Kristina Swarner (American b. 1965)
She Told You All The Stories In the World from the book Before You Were Born, 2005
Linocut with watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil on paper
11”x21”
Purchased with funds from the Edward Johnson Endowment Fund
Alejandro Romero (Mexican b.1948) & Peter Exley (British b.1964)
Kinderspring, 2007
Mixed media mosaic
Pierre-Auguste Renoir (French 1848-1919)
Head of Coco, 1908
Bronze on marble base
10 ¾ ”x7 ⅝” x 7 ½ “
Reproduction by Alva Studios, Inc.1958
Brendan Wenzel (American b.1981)
Peregrines Over Evanston, 2018
Mixed media collage
11”x14 ¼”
Gift of the Artist
George Suyeoka (American 1926-2015)
Momotaro from the book Urashima Taro, 1973
Marker and watercolor on paper
Gift of the Suyeoka Family in memory of George Suyeoka
Eric Rohmann
Discover New Worlds
Oil on canvas
34.25”x11”
Purchased with funds from the Edward Johnson Endowment Fund
9.2003
Accompanying Discover New Worlds are preliminary pencil and watercolor sketches of the final piece.
Peggy MacNamara (American)
Metamorphosis
Watercolor on Paper
30”x20”
Purchased with funds from the Edward Johnson Endowment Fund
Edward Martinez (Argentine)
Too Many Tamales from the the book Too Many Tamales, 1992
Oil on canvas
Elisha Cooper (American b. 1971)
Big Cat, Little Cat from the book Big Cat, Little Cat, 2017
Serigraph print
97/100
Beverly Stucker Precious (American b.1952)
For Endless Trees, 1994
Stained Glass
Commissioned by the City of Evanston
Second Floor Landing
Richard LaLonde (American b.1950)
World View, 1993
Fused glass on ceramic
Gift of Nancy and Philip Kotler
Evanston Children
Untitled, 2018
Acrylic paint on acrylic
Gift of the Evanston Chamber of Commerce
Second Floor
Giovanni Maria Benzoni (Italian, 1809-1873)
Innocence Guarded by Faithfulness, 1868
Marble
Unknown Provenance
Location: Evanstoniana Room
Nicholas Krushenick (American 1929-1999)
Untitled, 1969
Silk Screen Print
72”x41”
Gift of Frederick Dose
Ruth V. Weiner (American b.1923-2009)
Out of Antiquity, 1992
Porcelain
Gift of the Artist
Bill Boyce (American b.1950)
Untitled Sculpture
Gift of the Artist
Third Floor
William-Adolphe Bouguereau (French 1825-1905)
A la Fontaine (At the Fountain), 1897
Oil on canvas
Digital reproduction by Christie’s Fine Art Auctioneer, 1999
Beth Adler (American b.1955)
Peregrine Chick
Pencil, india ink, gesso on canvas
30”x22”
Gift of the Artist
Fourth Floor Offices
Walter Burt Adams (American 1903-1990)
May First, 1952
Oil on canvas
29”x50”
Gift of Library Volunteers
Robert Burton Middaugh (American 1935-2011)
Severed Connections
Acrylic on canvas
30”x50”
Gift of Danielle & Victor Barcilon
Herb Jackson (American b. 1945)
Jazz Time (for Romare Bearden), 1993
Acrylic on canvas
72”x72”
On loan from the collection of John F. Vail
Location: 4th floor, Administrative Offices
Artist Unknown
On Loan from the collection of John F. Vail.
Artist Unknown
On loan from the collection of John F. Vail
Artist Unknown
On Loan from the collection of John F. Vail.
Artist Unknown
On Loan from the collection of John F. Vail.
Artist Unknown
On Loan from the collection of John F. Vail.
Robert Crown Branch Library
Ruth Duckworth (German 1919-2009)
Untitled, 1973
Stone
Gift of Paul H. Leffmann, in memoriam of Theo H. Leffmann
