On Display

The Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that Grell’s painting; “Bouquet” is now hanging across from the CD collection at the library. The family of Louis Grell (1887-1960), famous Council Bluffs artist, has allowed the Council Bluffs Public Library the opportunity to display a Grell painting in the library.  This will be a revolving exhibit over the next 20 years with a different Grell painting being displayed in the library for approximately one year.

Council Bluffs native Louis Grell, showed artistic talent at such an early age that he was sent to Germany when he was 12 to live with his grandparents and to study art.  He stayed in Europe until 1916.  When he returned to the United States he worked in New York City doing stage design.  He eventually left New York City and moved to Chicago, teaching at the Chicago Art Institute for a number of years.

Grell was primarily known as a muralist.  His murals and frescoes adorn the ceilings and walls of more than 75 architecturally significant and National Historical Landmarks across America. Aside from murals though, he also devoted time to compositions, landscapes and portraits which graced the homes of family members during his lifetime and following his death.  More information can be found on the website: http://www.louisgrell.com