The 16 local artists selected to create public art for Omaha Central Library unveiled their pieces to a small group of their friends, family, and art supporters on March 29, 2026. The collection is believed to be the largest and most accessible collection of local art in the Omaha area. The community will be invited to see it when the library opens to the public, beginning Sunday, April 19.
The diverse collection of art includes sculpture, photography, mixed media, video, and textile work, with the works located throughout the interior and exterior of the new library. In addition to viewing the art collection, library visitors will also be able to learn more about each piece through a digital guide to the collection, opens a new window, including maps, photos, and videos about how the art was made.
Omaha Public Library Executive Director Laura Marlane says the connection adds to the library’s sense of community. “Art in public buildings helps to create a vibrant and welcoming space,” said Marlane. “It encourages people to interact with each other and reflects who we are as a community and who we want to be.”
The 16 artists were selected through a call for art that drew 242 applicants from the Omaha metro area. They each received commissions to develop and fabricate their pieces, with a total philanthropic investment of $1.3 million in local art. The art was created as the library was being built, providing a rare opportunity for artists to work alongside designers and architects as they formulated their ideas and fabricated their pieces.
Art was an essential component from the beginning of the Central Library project, according to Heritage Omaha, the nonprofit that raised the funds and oversaw construction of Central Library.
“This library is an investment in our community — a place where people can learn, grow, and discover — and we knew local artists would help create that environment,” said Heritage Omaha President Tina Cherica. “These artists know the importance of Omaha Public Library to our community and took immense pride in creating permanent pieces for this beautiful space.”
The featured artists are Littleton Alston, Celeste Butler, Richard Chung, Dana Damewood, Mari Dailey, Kim Hager, Shelby Neeley, Peyton Pearson, Christopher Prinz, Linda Rivera Garcia, Sarah Rowe, Lee Running, Shelby Seier, Angie Seykora, Ashley Vak, and Cindy Weil. The process for artwork integration was facilitated by Amplify Arts, an Omaha nonprofit that provides resources to artists, organizers, and cultural workers.
When it opens, Omaha Central Library will become the nucleus of the entire Omaha Public Library system, combining traditional library books and services with state-of-the-art technologies and in-demand social amenities. It will serve as a hub for creativity, collaboration, innovation, and workforce development. Launched by Omaha Public Library and the City of Omaha in partnership with three nonprofit organizations — Omaha Public Library Foundation, Heritage Omaha, and Do Space — Omaha Central Library is an important cultural investment in literacy, digital equity, community, and individual potential.
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