Rafael Blanco — An Exhibit Reflecting on a Decade of Public Art

Photo by Lydia Schoessling

Former Elmhurst University faculty member Rafael Blanco is exhibiting his artwork at the Elmhurst Art Museum. The exhibit opened on Sep. 7 and will remain until Jan. 5, 2025.

When visitors first enter the exhibit, they can sit down and listen to Blanco walk through his creative background on a large screen. There are shots of him working and engaging with the art, which gives the audience a peek into the process.

Blanco reflects on a decade of public art, sharing how his experience as an immigrant helped inspire many of his pieces. His message centers around maintaining your cultural identity while embracing a new one.

You may be familiar with some of his work; Blanco was the artist behind EU’s “Be Bold, Be Elmhurst” mural. He worked alongside another artist and current Elmhurst faculty member, Andrew Sobol, to create the colorful masterpiece.

Blanco is giving an ‘Artist Talk’ at the Elmhurst Art Museum on Oct. 12, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. where he will reflect on what it is like to be an artist and the inevitable rejection that comes with it. He believes this is an integral part of being an artist, offering the audience a new perspective on a perceived negative thing.

Additionally, Blanco will be doing an artist-led exhibition tour on Dec. 7, at the Elmhurst Art Museum from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m.