16 Local Artists Selected

Sixteen Omaha and Council Bluffs area artists have been selected to have their creations on permanent display at OPL’s new Central Library, currently under construction at 72nd and Dodge streets and scheduled to open in 2026. The artists were chosen from 242 local applicants in an open call for public art, coordinated by OPL and Omaha nonprofit Amplify Arts. The selected artists’ planned works for Central Library include sculpture, photography, mixed media, video and textile work.

OPL’s Executive Director Laura Marlane said each of the selected artists will bring something unique to Central Library. “The variety of mediums and perspectives will result in one of the broadest, most accessible collections of local art in Omaha,” said Marlane. “And the work is especially meaningful because of the personal connections many of the selected artists have with libraries, including utilizing the libraries to help kickstart their careers as artists. We can’t wait to help them unveil their works!”

Central Library partners have committed 1% of the total building construction costs towards an investment in public art, with the majority of that budget already allotted to local artists through this call for art. The 16 artists selected in this call are receiving project budget awards ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 to develop and fabricate their new pieces. They will now work with Amplify Arts and the Central Library design team on final designs and plans for placement and installation at the Central Library. Amplify Arts provides resources to artists, organizers and cultural workers facilitated the call for art, including the selection process. “This is, by far, the biggest response we’ve ever seen to a public call for art in Omaha,” said Lauren Martin of Amplify Arts. “Local artists were excited about being part of such a beloved community institution like the library and thoughtful about the possibilities in this new, beautiful building.”

The selection process for the artists included a review and scoring process by a panel of arts professionals from across the United States. Top-ranking applications were then reviewed by a panel of representatives from various Central Library stakeholder groups, who made the final selections.