Reading Circles/Weaving Dreams/Seeding Futures

By Aliza Nisenbaum

About

The artwork

Across 70 feet, Aliza Nisenbaum paints a dreamlike library filled with readers, writers, and symbols of learning. Plants and botanical drawings appear throughout the mural, connecting books to growth and discovery. Writers including James Baldwin, Robin Wall Kimmerer, and Walt Whitman appear beside everyday readers. References to Chicago, textiles, art, science, and President Obama’s words run through the work, showing the many ideas libraries hold and share.

Location: Chicago Public Library | Main Reading Room

The artist

Aliza Nisenbaum is a Harlem-based artist who was born in Mexico City and raised by Russian-Jewish and Scandinavian-American parents. She is best known for her intimate portraits of fellow immigrants from Mexico and Central America, many of whom are undocumented and accustomed to living in a state of relative invisibility. Nisenbaum earned both a BFA and MFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

A photographed portrait of Aliza Nisenbaum. Aliza is sitting in a black chair that is partially obscured in a room with a white wall. Alize has an olive complexion and long dark curly hair. She is smiling at the camera. She is wearing a small dark necklace and a dark colored button-down shirt.
Credit: Photo by Naima Green

Explore More

  • Hear from Aliza Nisenbaum

    Explore the Obama Presidential Center audio guide to hear artist Aliza Nisenbaum walk you through her vibrant 60-foot mural, and discover the hidden Chicago references and iconic figures woven into its story.

    Listen Now (Opens in a new tab)

  • Chicago Public Library, Obama Presidential Center Branch

    Reading Circles/Weaving Dreams/Seeding Futures is located in the heart of the Obama Presidential Center Library, a new branch of the Chicago Public Library that celebrates creativity and fosters the imagination for our next generation of leaders. 

    Learn More

  • The President’s List

    Discover some of President Obama’s favorite books over the years including classics and contemporary works. 

    Learn More
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