On Tuesday, May 17, Elmhurst University will celebrate the completion of the first public art mural for both the campus and the City of Elmhurst.

Over two chilly, windy, rainy weeks in April, Elmhurst University art faculty Rafael Blanco and Andrew Sobol transformed a 200-foot-long, 50-foot-high exterior brick wall into the vibrant mural “Be Bold. Be Elmhurst.” During the celebration, Blanco and Sobol will officially finish the mural by signing it.

Earlier this spring, Elmhurst U. students, faculty and staff overwhelmingly selected the “Be Bold. Be Elmhurst” design from among four options, and the City of Elmhurst’s Public Arts Commission unanimously approved the project on March 30.

The Elmhurst University Mural celebration will take place from 11:00–11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 17, at the north wall of R.A. Faganel Hall, at Park and Prospect avenues (facing the railroad tracks) in Elmhurst.

Although located on University property, the mural faces outward, serving as public art that the artists hope will connect the campus and the Elmhurst community in a way that will inspire its viewers and add to the city’s visual landscape.

About the Artists

Rafael Blanco is a professional muralist who has painted award-winning, large-scale public art murals in Nevada, Indiana, Colorado, Maryland, California and throughout Illinois. Andrew Sobol is chair of the Elmhurst University art department, a graphic designer and creative director whose wide-ranging projects include branding, marketing design and web application development. Both artists donated their time to paint the mural.