150 Artists x 150 Years
150 Artists x 150 Years
150 x 150 celebrates Madison Public Library’s
150 years of service to the community.
We’re inviting 150 artists who have made tremendous contributions to The Bubbler’s programming—through residencies, workshops, exhibitions, and more—to create a new piece of art for a system-wide exhibition later this year.
Language is changing and evolving all the time, and every year, new words and terms are added to the dictionary or used for the first time. We revel in the ever-evolving nature of language and how it reflects our cultures, histories, technologies, pastimes, and style. It’s who we are!
Each artist will be randomly assigned a year between 1875 and 2024. Whether formally added to the dictionary or recorded in print for the first time, a selection of words recognized as “new” through their adoption into the English language each year are available for artists to use as inspiration. They’ll pick one word that will inspire a brand new artwork.
On May 17, the Bubbler Team will install a display of all 150 artists and their assigned years, with the words they can choose from. Check them out in the third floor gallery of Central Library anytime during regular opening times. We hope you’ll learn a new word, revisit some familiar slang, or imagine this year will bring.
Bookmark this page! We’re updating regularly.
Check out the library’s events and festivities marking the library’s 150th year in 2025:
Meet the featured artists!
Aaron Granat • Adam Villegas • Alanna Stapleton • Alice Traore • Alicia Rheal • Amy Mietzel • Anda Manteufel • Andy Gricevich • Andy Rubin • Andy Villanueva • Angela Johnson • Ann Orlowski • Ariel Wood • Aris Georgiades • Ash Armenta • Ash Lusietto • Audifax • Baptiste Paul • Barb Mergen Alvarado • Barbara Landes • Barry Carlsen • Bernie Witzack • Bird Ross • Carlos Eduardo Gacharná • Chele Isaac • Chris Murphy • Christina Theobald • Christine Holm • Ciara Nash • Claire Kellesvig • Claudia Linnea Carlson • Craig Grabhorn • Cricket Redman • David Wells • Deck Salm • Derrick Buisch • Desere Mayo • Dusty Karls • Ellie Braun • Elyza Parker • Emily Balsley • Emily Hoyt-Weber • Emily Meredith Lewis • Emily Schroeder • Eric Adjetey Anang • Eric Baillies • Erica Hess • Erika Koivunen • Frank Juárez • Gabrielle Javier-Cerulli • Gail Simpson • Grace Olson • Hannah O'Hare Bennett • Hannah Sandvold • Heath Matysek-Snyder • Heather Kohlmeier • Henry Obeng • J Myszka Lewis • Jack Whisenant • James Papadapoulos • Jason Levy • Jason Ruhl • Jen Falkowski • Jenie Gao • Jennifer Bastian • Jeremy Wineberg • Jerry Chapa • Jerry Jordan • John Hitchcock • Juliet King • Juliette Walker • Justin Bitner • Kate Mead • Katherine Steichen Rosing • Kathy Walter • Kati Fernandez Lambert • Katrin Talbot • Kristin Redman • Larry Stephens • Lauden Nute • Laura Damen Moore • Lauren Scanlon • Lesley Numbers • Lewis Koch • Lexie Olson • Lillian Sizemore • Linda Farrelly • Linda Justmann • Luis Echavarria Uribe • Lydia Diemer • M Sweetnam • Maria Amalia Wood • Maria Schirmer Devitt • Marianne Fairbanks • Marina Kelly • Mars Patterson • Mary Bergs • Mayela Finol • Megan Scheffer • Michael Duffy • Michael Velliquette • Mickey Mestiza • Miryeong Hong • Niki Johnson • Oliver Bendorf • Paul Briskey • Philip Hassett • Poornima Moorthy • Quincy Millerjohn • Rachal Duggan • Racheal Griffin • Rachel Hausmann Schall • Ray Mawst • Rebecca Millerjohn • Rebecca Vickers • Rodney Shreiner • Rodrigo Carapia • Romano Johnson • Ryan Sigg • Sachi + Laura Komai • Sam Christensen • Sara Meredith • Savannah Starlin • Scott Espeseth • Scott Pauli • Seth Klekamp • Shandra Bjyrd • Sharon Bjyrd • Sharon Tang • Sherri Shokler • Shlomit Kafri • Sophia Abrams • Spatula & Barcode • Stephen Kennedy • Stephen Perkins • Tess Stroh • TetraPAKMAN • Tobie DePauw • Toby Kaufmann-Buhler • Tom Loeser • Ty Springer • Vincent Mollica
…and a few more!
150 x 150 is supported by the City of Madison, the Friends of Madison Public Library, and Madison Public Library Foundation.