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Jessie Kerr Kerr said the aesthetic for her most current project “blends two-dimensional graphic elements with a fully rendered, painterly approach.” “As a painter, I enjoy incorporating oil techniques into my digital work, using specialized brushes to create textures that feel richly traditional,” Kerr said. She said the public art project feels fulfilling, having her work on display for all to enjoy. “My friends often send me photos when they spot my pieces, though my children are still a bit too young to realize that having a parent’s artwork on street corners isn’t a universal experience,” she said. “Public art is vital because it enhances the city's relevance,” Kerr said. “Introducing color into an otherwise beige landscape adds essential interest and personality. I particularly appreciate the city’s commitment to hiring local artists to highlight Buckeye’s unique character.”
January/February 2026
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Charith Denson Charith Denson, an accomplished Peoria-based artist, said she felt honored to be chosen for the project. She had done a similar project in Surprise, so she said she was familiar with what Buckeye expected. She and another participating artist, Jessie Kerr, partnered to contact residents in Buckeye, to better understand what they would like to see. They created an online Google Form with color pallet choices and other options to help them understand the best how they Her assigned theme was “Mountains,” which allowed her to incorporate some of her favorite concepts. Her traffic box piece includes silhouettes of human faces that make a collection of mountain ranges. “It's … really important to me that there is a human element in my pieces,” Denson said. “And that people feel like they can see themselves in that story. And, so I wanted to use profiles for the mountains, so that people in Buckeye could kind of see how they're part of shaping the landscape.” Denson said that regardless of whether her art is a public work or commissioned she wants people to have access to art. “That's kind of been the driving force,” she said. “But it's also important to me that people have access to the art. So it's not just in museums, and it's not just for those that can afford to pay for it. Really, public art fits into the ethos I have for how art should be consumed.”
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