Public Art in the Library

After an exhaustive search by the Library’s 14 member Art Committee, nine artists were selected to develop site specific artwork for the new library. The art was paid for by private donations. Notecards and posters of the library’s public art work are available for sale in the library store.

  Robert Barry of Teaneck, NJ, a highly regarded conceptual artist, has created a project of thought-provoking words etched into a bluestone corner on the building’s exterior.
Katherine Hackl of Lambertville, NJ created 13 ceramic art panels of varying sizes depicting aspects of local history for the Princeton Collection Room.
Margaret K. Johnson of Princeton, NJ, was commissioned to create a layered textile wall sculpture of minimalist elegance for the Quiet Room.
Ik-Joong Kang of New York, NY created "Happy World," a mixed media wall installation for the lobby featuring 3,700 paintings and carvings by the artist interspersed with artifacts and words contributed by the community.
Tom Nussbaum of Montclair, NJ, who makes figurative sculptures that are as thought provoking as they are whimsical, created four pieces for the children’s area on the third floor.
Faith Ringgold of Englewood, NJ, renowned artist and writer, is featured on the third floor with a mosaic mural from her award winning book "Tar Beach."
Buzz Spector, a highly respected book and illustration artist from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY created a unique donor book providing an artistic acknowledgement for the 950 contributors to the library’s capital campaign.
Armando Sosa, a Guatamalan-born weaver who lives in Hopewell, NJ, created a large weaving that is the focal point for the second floor.
Mary Taylor of Rochester, NY, created "Louis the Trumpeter Swan," a 7 foot sculpture inspired for the book "Trumpet of the Swans" for the third floor.


Complementing the new art installations are several beloved pieces returning to public view from the previous library including Dorothea Greenbaum’s beloved Girl with the Bird and Antonio Salemme’s bust of Princeton native Paul Robeson.

The dollhouse that graced the children’s room of the previous library for many years was totally refurbished by Lillian McDonnell and is located on the third floor.

Reference Gallery Exhibits

The library works with the Arts Council of Princeton to book artists for the library’s reference gallery one year in advance.

The Arts Council Director and library Director, Leslie Burger, choose artists based on the quality of their work, anticipated appeal to the community, and type of media and its appropriateness for the library gallery space.

Individuals interested in submitting art work for consideration should provide send jpeg images on a CD or via an email attachment addressed to Leslie Burger.