Welcome to Lightbox, where art and commerce converge to celebrate local talent. Facing the high traffic road of Neil Street, our space is more than just a place of business—it's a unique gallery showcasing the diverse and dynamic works of our community's artists. Original work is rotated twice a year.
We take pride in highlighting local artists who reflect the depth of talent in our community and providing a platform for artists to reach new audiences and thrive. Contact us for more information about becoming a featured artist.
This project was initiated by Dr. Jennifer Bergmark, Assistant Professor in Art Education at the School of Art & Design. This supported by the George A. Miller Visiting Scholar Program, the School of Art & Design Visitor Series Committee, Krannert Art Museum, and the Unit 4 School District. It would not have been possible without the help and involvement of Stacey Gross, our school partners and art teachers, and art education students enrolled in ARTE 303.
Featured Lightbox Artist
Symbols, Stories, and Community: Unit 4 Student work Created with Bernard Williams
Symbols, Stories, and Community is a creative collaboration between students of Stratton Elementary, Garden Hills Elementary, Booker T. Washington Elementary, and Franklin Middle School in Champaign and artist Bernard Williams. This vibrant exhibition showcases artwork that was created through workshops with 4th, 5th, and 6th graders, resulting in a lively collection of creative works—rooted in playful exploration of symbols representing the lives and interests of the students. Bernard Williams introduced students to the concept of telling stories through symbols by sharing his work and leading students through an art-making activity. Williams asked students to think about their home, family, community, and school, and to create a symbol for an aspect of their lives in Champaign.
Bernard Williams is a Chicago based artist who investigates the complexities of American history and culture through painting, sculpture, and installation. His work investigates symbolic and associative histories through an open-ended dialogue, addressing identity, flattening hierarchies, and questioning who we are collectively. Williams’ work enters the past, present, or future through rough reconstruction, reinterpreting, or a role play with the object or idea. Related stories and hidden or lost narratives are absorbed and reflected, and all the signs and images are not necessarily identifiable or penetrable. His creative practices involve collecting, repositioning, or reshaping existing objects for new interpretations.
Williams earned his BFA from University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and his MFA from Northwestern University. He has exhibited at the Arts Club of Chicago (IL), Sideshow Gallery (NY), Laumeier Sculpture Park (MO), among others. He has received numerous awards and grants, including the Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation Award, the Meier Foundation Award, and an Illinois Arts Council Grant. He was an artist-in-residence at Cooper Union (NY), EDGE (CA), the International Studio and Curatorial Program (NY), and John Michael Kohler Arts Center’s Arts/Industry at Kohler Co. (WI).
Featured Lightbox Artist
Lisa Kesler
Migración
Click here to visit Lisa Kesler Studio
Every year, monarch butterflies create a special link between central Illinois and Mexico, traveling thousands of miles between the two. They rely on Illinois’ wildflowers and milkweed to fuel their journey before settling in Mexico’s forests for the winter. This incredible migration connects our countries and our landscapes and reminds us how important it is to protect their path.
Lisa Kesler is a native of Central Illinois. She has a degree in painting from the University of Illinois and a masters degree in illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design. She works as a painter, illustrator, printmaker, and instructor from her studio in Champaign, IL.
Robin Scholz/The News-Gazette
Featured Lightbox Artist
Julia Pollack
Institute of Genomic Biology, University of Illinois
Science is Beautiful
Click here to read Luke Taylor’s featured story in The News-Gazette
Julia Pollack uses art as a vehicle to teach the community about science. She is interested in outreach activities that invite the public to ask more questions about the science and scientists at the IGB. She also creates and curates the IGB's Art of Science collection, which focuses on the connections between art and science.
