Bicentennial Bison, Peoria City Hall 

     I was commissioned by Peoria City Hall to paint a bison for their part in the Peoria County celebration. It is hand painted with acrylic and then clear coated. 

My intention with this design was to highlight the rich cultures and community that have shaped Peoria county both historically and in the present. I included interlocking circles to represent how important diversity is and how we will continue to make each other, and Peoria, better and stronger by collaborating, learning from, and celebrating each other. 

     Each circle section is filled with a reference to a specific cultural group. On one side, I included French, German, Scotch-Irish, Mexican, and Cherokee. On the other side, I included the Peoria tribes (Peoria, Piankashaw, Wea, Kaskaskia), and then asked for input from four current community members who provided me with personal references, such as fabric, from their heritage. These are the Netherlands, India, Ghana, and the Philippines. 

     Other elements include the abstracted form arching around the central circle- which represents the bridge downtown- and the hatch marks on the rest of the buffalo referencing basketry and weaving. Both of these speak to how we are all connected, and though it’s a very small example of the cultural richness and influence Peoria has as an asset, I hope it will be a joyful visual reminder.

Sky Art Peoria, 2021 Billboard award

Detail of "Effervescent Connections" placed on a rotating billboard display around the Peoria area. 

Peoria Grown & Big Picture Fresh Produce Stand

Acrylic and spray paint on locally made produce stand.

Painted for Peoria Grown in conjunction with Big Picture Peoria to give access to fresh produce to children in schools and community centers.

Hello Peoria: Spool Paintings

Acrylic and spray glaze on repurposed wooden spools and placed around a public art building in downtown Peoria, IL. Tiny public art.