Check out the process behind designing CPL’s 2025 summer artwork.
Bringing Summer at CPL to Life
A cheerful little ant toting books and a cozy campsite made entirely of pages and covers, the artwork for this year’s Summer at CPL is as energetic as it is whimsical. And the artist that brought this vision to life is the wonderfully bright and joyful imagination of illustrator and muralist Katie Lukes.
A former graphic designer turned full-time illustrator, Katie is known for her bold, vibrant style filled with warmth and whimsy. Examples of her work include the Chicago Bull’s 2023 Pride Night game hat, a poster design for the West Town neighborhood, and murals across the city.
When she was invited to design the artwork for this year’s Summer at CPL campaign, her response was immediate: “Oh my gosh, I was so excited.”
How could she not be? Katie grew up devouring books every summer through her local library’s reading program so the opportunity to design artwork that would inspire a new generation of young readers felt full circle. “I thought about my younger self,” she says. “She was a big reader, so I just thought of that right away and how excited my younger self would be to see that I get to work on something that benefited me as a kid.”
Chicago Parks meets Chicago Libraries
This year’s Summer at CPL theme, Growing Minds, Going Green, immediately brought to mind the natural oases that dot Chicago’s neighborhoods. “I thought right away of the parks in Chicago,” Katie says. “It’s so cool to me that we have all that access to nature and that you can kind of escape the city and enjoy some time outdoors.”
That sense of escape inspired the central image of her artwork: a tent made from books. “Reading and nature kind of give you the same idea of getting away,” she explains. “It’s also a book where you can get away from your real life and just really get into this other world.”
Spreading Joy Through Reading
Katie hopes her artwork brings a moment of delight and wonder to library visitors across the city. “Just a little smile makes my day,” she says. “I love sharing my work with my community. This has just been an awesome way for me to do that.”
This summer, keep an eye out for Katie’s cheerful illustrations at your local branch—and maybe, just maybe, you’ll spot a tiny book-loving ant leading the way.
Join the summer fun from June 21 through August 3 at chipublib.org/summer-at-cpl.
Thank you to our summer @ CPL funders: BMO, Allstate, Amazon, KPMG, Helen M. Harrison Foundation, The Brinson Foundation, Dr. Scholl Foundation, Cubs Charities, and other generous donors to the Chicago Public Library Foundation.
