FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 9, 2026
ArtsPartners Announces Megan Couri as Artist for Illinois America 250 Mural Celebrating Peoria and the Peoria TribePEORIA, IL – ArtsPartners of Central Illinois is pleased to announce artist Megan Couri as the selected artist for a new public mural honoring the history, culture, and enduring legacy of the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma, the Indigenous peoples whose history is at the root of the land and waterways of central Illinois, as well as the modern-day City of Peoria. The mural will be located at 700 West Main Street, on the corner of Main Street and Sheridan Road.
The mural is part of ArtsPartners’ Illinois America 250 initiative and is funded by the Illinois Arts Council. Work on the mural is expected to begin around September 12, with a public ribbon cutting tentatively planned for Friday, October 2, weather permitting. The intersection at Main and Sheridan receives approximately 10,500 cars per day, placing it in a highly visible location.
“ArtsPartners of Central Illinois is extremely proud to bring this new mural to Peoria,” said Dr. Mae Gilliland, Executive Director. “This is the only mural of its kind in the region that celebrates the legacy and culture of the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma, for which our city was named. We will see our modern-day Peoria and the river valley in the mural; alongside it, the mural reminds us that this land’s history goes far deeper here in our beautiful corner of the United States.”Couri was selected through a competitive review process that began with the evaluation of multiple artist submissions. The selection committee narrowed the field to three finalists before undertaking an extensive review of the artists’ concepts and selecting Couri for the commission.
The selection committee included Peoria City Councilman Alex Carmona, artist; Felisa Durr, Tri-County Urban League; Chris Kaergard, Dirksen Congressional Center; Joy Kessler, artist and building owner; Jo Lakota, community advocate and artist; Hattie Lee Mendoza, artist; Jon Neidy, Illinois Central College; Hannah Offutt, artist; Logan Pappenfort, Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; and Megan Scott, Peoria Art Guild.
Pappenfort’s participation ensured that the Peoria Tribe was represented directly in the process of selecting the artist and reviewing major public artwork intended to share part of the Tribe’s history and continuing connection to the region. His perspective was an important part of the selection process. The intention was to approach the subject matter with care and respect, centering the Peoria Tribe and its history.
“There are many ways to tell stories and commemorate others, and having been chosen to paint a community mural to celebrate the rich Indigenous history of Peoria, Illinois, is quite an honor,” Couri said. “I’m excited to bring in my team: Pam DeGagne-Smith, Ian Cooper, and Mia Couri. I want to express my gratitude to ArtsPartners of Central Illinois for continuing to craft spaces for public art. This public artwork honors the area’s original inhabitants and their enduring connection to the Illinois River ecosystem.”
Couri continued: “I was one of the artists for the Peoria County Bicentennial, and that project deeply resonated with my spirit. So being chosen to paint this mural in honor of the Peoria Native American civilizations is an extraordinary privilege. I hope to help tell the story of the Peoria Tribe and ensure their vital history remains acknowledged and visible in our city today.”
Across Illinois and within our nation, the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States continues. While Illinois America 250 looks back on the nation’s history and Illinois’ role in it, the mural broadens that lens by recognizing that the history of the land now known as Peoria extends far beyond 1776 and remains connected to the Peoria people today.
The project is made possible through funding from the Illinois Arts Council.
More information will be shared soon at artspartners.net.
