Artwork of 5 local residents featured throughout DeKalb

By Austin Lamb, News Editor

September 16, 2025

Christine Perkovich of DeKalb stands next to the utility box featuring her painting “Welcome to DeKalb, Illinois” at the entrance to DeKalb High School. Artwork by five DeKalb residents was selected in the fourth round of utility box murals which were recently installed through the public art initiative of the City of DeKalb and its Citizens’ Community Enhancement Commission. (Courtesy of the City of DeKalb and the Citizens’ Community Enhancement Commission)

DeKALB – The artwork of five DeKalb residents have been selected to be installed on utility boxes throughout the city of DeKalb.

Paintings by the artists were used to create a fourth round of utility box murals, which were recently installed through the public art initiative of the City of DeKalb and its Citizens’ Community Enhancement Commission (CCEC).

The program is partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.

Digital images of the paintings were made into vinyl wraps, which were installed on utility boxes to create pop-up murals throughout DeKalb. The artwork was selected from nearly 50 submissions from local artists for the latest round of the program.

“Thank you to all the talented artists who submitted their artwork to beautify our city. The

skill and creativity shown in your work is another example of the vibrancy of DeKalb’s arts

community,” Mayor Cohen Barnes said in a press release distributed by the City of DeKalb. “It is a thrill to be able to share this artwork with the public, and we’re excited to extend this program to more neighborhoods.”

Previous rounds of the program centered the artwork around the downtown area, but the latest round expanded the murals into new areas of DeKalb.

The artists and locations of their murals are as follows:

Doug Overton, North Annie Glidden Road and Lucinda Avenue
Christine Perkovich, Dresser Road and Pride Avenue
Lise Schlosser, North Annie Glidden Road and West Hillcrest Drive
Charlie B. Thorne, North First Street and Pine Street
Aaron Tinder, North First Street and West Hillcrest Drive

“We were very pleased and excited by the nearly 50 submissions from local artists for this year’s utility box art initiative,” Chair of the CCEC Brad Hoey said in the press release. “The quantity and quality of the applications reveals that this public art program resonates with area artists, and the overwhelmingly positive feedback from city residents is an indication that utility box art is very popular with members of the DeKalb community.”

The CCEC plans to feature more local artists on utility boxes across a growing number of neighborhoods throughout DeKalb.

About the Contributor

Austin Lamb, News Editor

Austin Lamb is a sophomore majoring in English with a history minor. He is responsible for coverage of NIU’s Student Government Association. Outside of the Star, Austin enjoys playing music, weightlifting and playing PC games with his friends.