Hokusai in Lisle - Jennifer Rizzo

Have you ever had the opportunity to be a part of something wildly creative for your community? Recently I was a part of a creative team that worked on bringing the artist, Hokusai, to our downtown Lisle for an experience we call Hokusai in Lisle. It was such an amazing experience and I want to share the entire thing with you, not just the end pictures. This was right up my alley since you know how much I love creating display!

A black bench sits in front of a brick wall mural with pink flowers and a faux pink flowering tree, next to a pot of vibrant pink and white flowers, offering a peaceful Hokusai in Lisle-inspired scene.

I was on a committee that teamed up with local entities such as the village, library, park district, public works, Lisle Woman’s Club, and more along with Pulse Studios and Shiny Squirrel Art Studio to create a one of a kind experience to downtown Lisle. Our local community college, College of DuPage at The Mac the Clive Carney Museum of Art has a pretty amazing art gallery and they host a big exhibit every few years. Two years ago they brought in Warhol for an exhibit, and this year they brought the Japanese artist Hokusai. I was honored to be on the planning committee that designed and implemented the exhibit from start to finish. It was a ton of work, but Chris from Pulse Studio (and his awesome team) and I decided we wanted to dive in and create something really awesome for our downtown with the Village. It took a lot of pre-planning and many, many meetings.

Two people stand apart on either side of a brick and stone wall outdoors in Hokusai in Lisle, with bare tree shadows cast on the wall and a drainage grate in the foreground.

We have a really pretty fountain right in the middle and a pretty pathway behind it. We knew this would be the perfect spot for a walking art gallery experience.

Three detailed coloring pages—an owl, rocks with water, and large leaves—are spread on a table; a hand and art supplies are partially visible, evoking the intricate style of Hokusai in Lisle.

We really kicked it into high gear after the new year. We wanted to have a community art project component and created banners that residents could paint and would be displayed up and down Main Street near the fountain. We had so many returned, we also have them displayed at the Library, Park District and the Village Hall! We chose 3 of Hokusai’s paintings to turn into a grayscale paint by number and let people create their own artwork using anything from acrylic paint to crayons! We designed grayscale banners and the library hosted sessions where people could come and paint them and it was really fun. Chris and I spent a morning sealing them so they could hold up to the weather!

A group of adults sits and stands around tables in a well-lit room, engaged in arts and crafts activities inspired by Hokusai in Lisle, using paper and paint supplies. — Image with courtesy of the Lisle Library

We ended up with so many amazing banners returned to us! it was so inspiring to see what people did as Hokusai in their own interpretation.

A table displaying five colorful art pieces, including a landscape reminiscent of Hokusai in Lisle, a dragon, two floral designs, and an abstract composition, viewed from above.

Along with the community project, we created an entire walking gallery. Pulse designed a really cool AR experience at the fountain with a tunnel behind it that starts the journey into the Hokusai in Lisle experience.

A row of colorful drawings featuring dragons and large flowers, reminiscent of Hokusai in Lisle, displayed on white paper atop a table with a concrete floor underneath.

Two workers in safety vests on a mobile lift attach long pink decorations to tree branches in an outdoor area next to a brick wall, bringing a touch of Hokusai in Lisle to the scene.

From there you enter the Cherry Blossom alley where you can learn more about Hokusai including his life and artwork. As you follow the path down, you can take a picture on a bench under a cherry blossom tree with a cherry blossom landscape mural behind it. It was amazing to see the transformation happen from an ordinary pathway to an outdoor art gallery.

Curved brick walkway bordered by a low stone wall, green plants, and trees with budding leaves near buildings on a cloudy day—an inviting scene reminiscent of Hokusai in Lisle.

A garden pathway with informational signs, pink flowers in planters, and pink floral decorations hanging from a tree, inspired by Hokusai in Lisle.

While I helped with a lot of the garden and design concept within the exhibit, Pusle Studio really made it happen and put all of the working parts together plus the lighting. They were such a great team and business to work with and it was a truly awesome collaboration.

Outdoor display featuring a cutout of Hokusai's "The Great Wave" and a sign reading "Hokusai in Lisle: Summer 2025," set against a brick wall and tree.

At the end of the path and into the Japanese-inspired garden (I’ll share in the next post!) that features a new Bloodgood Japanese Maple, you can meet a few of the local “residents” pulled right from Hokusai’s artwork including a monster and a samurai.

A person crouches in greenery, partially concealed by large cardboard cutouts of stylized Japanese art figures—evoking Hokusai in Lisle; cars and buildings are visible in the background.

The grand opening was so much fun and it was really awesome to see so many people enjoying the exhibit! We had such a great turn out and The Lisle Woman’s Club had refreshments and There were also free Lola’s Churro’s for the attendees! I got to hold the ribbon on one side for the ribbon cutting with the Mayor which was a huge honor!

Three people stand outside, one holding oversized scissors to cut a green ribbon in front of a white outdoor exhibit marked "Hokusai in Lisle," with trees and a brick building in the background.

If you live near by or are visiting the area of Naperville, Downers Grove or the Morton Arboretum to see their new Vivid Creatures exhibit, stop by and visit downtown Lisle. Learn a bit about Hokusai and see the entire exhibit here. You can also make it a “date” as Wednesdays nights are our new Food Truck Social.

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