Permanent Art Collection

A Lasting Legacy

Art has been integral to our library since the 1960s. We have always had a robust slate of rotating temporary exhibits in the library, and have acquired pieces from both these shows and through generous donations by members of the community. Browse our historical collections online.

A New Initiative

Completion of our recent renovation prompted us to begin a new art initiative. We want to ensure that the art on the walls better represents the people in our community. Our vision is “to establish a robust and relevant collection of visual art. Building on our artistic legacy, we will invigorate our permanent collection with work that inspires and enlightens, reflects the evolving diversity of our community, provokes further investigation and deeper understanding, and cultivates a culture of art appreciation.” With that in mind, the library recently acquired six new pieces by five artists:

Melissa Leandro 

Melissa Leandro explores her own cultural identity and uses family memories to create vibrantly layered, topographical textile works filled with imagery she has drawn and collected. She uses traditional and nontraditional processes of stitching, quilting, weaving and batik dyeing. By mirroring personal moments of daily life, she manifests thoughts of family history, remembered childhood fantasies and nostalgic cultural ephemera. Her work is shaped by past and present experiences and relationships; specifically, family memories of her mother working as a housekeeper in Miami, Florida; her grandparent’s chicken farm in Costa Rica; and her father’s livelihood as a construction worker and builder.

Jooseal Lee 

Jooseal Lee explores the beauty of individuality and the collective narrative that emerges when we come together. In her work, each tea bag represents a unique individual, steeped in their own experiences, memories, and emotions. The colors and textures symbolize their personal journeys, with the variations in hue and depth reflecting the complexity of human emotions and experiences. Just as tea bags are infused with diverse flavors and aromas, each person carries within them a richness that contributes to the tapestry of life. 

Jackie Milad

Drawing inspiration from her Egyptian and Honduran heritage, Jackie Milad focuses on symbols and myths representing the cyclical nature of life and death. In her works, these symbols create a narrative that transcends temporal boundaries. Starting on paper, Jackie layers fragments of painted fabric and detailed drawings construct her works. Combining collage, sewing, and mounting creates a harmonious fusion.

Poojie Pittie

Pooja Pittie is a self-taught visual artist based in Chicago, whose work explores the complex interplay between body and mind, movement and stillness. Living with a progressive form of muscular dystrophy, her work draws on the dynamics between a slowing body and an active, curious mind. Through painting and fiber art, she weaves together personal memories, cultural heritage, motherhood, and her experiences of disability, creating intricate compositions that speak to resilience and identity.

Moises Salazar Tlatenchi

Growing up in Chicago to immigrant parents, Moises Salazar Tlantenchi experienced firsthand the instability of living in the United States and the violence one can face. Their paintings act as a visual exploration of their interest in Colonial, Mexican, and Catholic histories, primarily alongside LGTBQIA+ narratives. Using glitter, a material often stigmatized, they creates depictions of queer and immigrant bodies, with faceless figures serving as a stand-in for any queer Latinx youth. The figures are proudly defiant and glamorous. 

Opening Reception

We invite you to see and celebrate our six new pieces at a reception scheduled for 6:30 pm on Thursday, July 17. The exciting new pieces will be on display, and the art committee, along with all of the artists, will talk about the new initiative and the new pieces.