Waukesha Public Art Committee Meeting – June 16, 2026

The Waukesha Public Art Committee met on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at 5:00 PM in the Training Room at City Hall. The committee reviewed and discussed 18 submissions from the second mural Request for Proposals (RFP) for Friedman Alley. After discussion, the committee narrowed the field to three finalist artists and scheduled a follow-up meeting to consult with the building owner and refine proposals. The meeting adjourned at 5:44 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The committee unanimously approved the minutes from the December 2, 2025 meeting (motion by Alderman Moltzan, seconded by Member Lange; 4-0 vote, with Amy Cropper absent).

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made.

Discussion Items

• Friedman Alley Mural RFP Review: Staff presented the ranked top six submissions (with two tied for third place, creating a total of six) from the 18 proposals received. The highest-ranked proposal (by James Barany) had an eight-point spread over the second. The committee reviewed the top six and also considered proposals ranked seven through nine.
  • James Barany (Waukesha resident): Proposed a historical mural featuring immigrant children, Les Paul, and other Waukesha references. Concerns included the building owner (Thomas Press) possibly not wanting the entire facade covered and the need for permission to use Les Paul’s image.
  • Melissa Hillmer: Presented a nature-themed mural with flowers, butterflies, and a badger. Committee members noted it was “safe” and “basic Wisconsin” but not Waukesha-specific. They suggested filling empty space with more meadow elements and replacing the badger with a local animal like a fox.
  • Katrina Exonde (sculptural): Offered 3D sculptural additions. The committee liked the creativity but worried about durability (snow removal, birds, vandalism) and suggested moving the idea to a higher, less accessible location. They proposed asking her to create a painted mural instead, using her river-meadow style.
  • Other top proposals: Included a historic postcard look (Tilt Vision Art), a river-themed mural (Molly Keen), and a nature-with-river-flow design (artist not specified). The committee felt these were similar to existing murals in Waukesha and not distinctive enough.
  • Proposals #7-9: Briefly reviewed but not considered competitive; one featured farmer’s market scenes, another focused on immigrant populations (committee felt it didn’t reflect the public), and a third with realistic animal depictions was deemed less compelling.

Key Outcomes

• The committee agreed to narrow the selection to three finalist artists: James Barany, Melissa Hillmer, and Katrina Exonde (with a request to submit a painted mural rather than a sculpture).
• Next Steps: Staff will contact the Thomas Press building owner to gauge interest and discuss design parameters. The committee will then reach out to the three artists to request modifications (e.g., adjusting the mural layout to incorporate building features, filling empty space, or changing themes).
• A follow-up meeting will be scheduled in approximately two to three weeks (before the next council meeting) to make a final selection. A poll will be sent to committee members to find a date.
• The committee noted that the recently completed fox mural and paw prints in the alley have received positive feedback.