Public Defender

Public Defender

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Open Fri-Sat 9-6, Sun 11-4, or by appointment.

A multifaceted art space in downtown Belleville, IL featuring solo exhibitions, juried shows, experimental programming, and a retail space for indie comics, zines, and prints.

09/16/2026

CARTOON CARNIVAL
FRIDAY 9.18 5-8PM
C’MON OUT

09/16/2026

OH MY WORD
FRIDAY 9.18 5-8PM
CHECK IT

09/15/2026

OH MY WORD
FRIDAY 9.18 5-8PM
VISIT

09/15/2026

CARTOON CARNIVAL
FRIDAY 9.18 5-8PM
DON’T MISS

09/15/2026

OH MY WORD
FRIDAY 9.18 5-8PM
BE THERE

09/14/2026

We are honored to be one of the locations for the new First Fridays Art Social!
Starting Friday October 2nd!

Governor French Gallery Public Defender Pour322 VENUE on Main Belleville Books Artisans off Main

09/13/2026

It’s another show in the books📚

Thank you Evan and Stacey Studio for bringing the beautiful work of Low Vis to Belleville.

Thank you to all the stellar artists from Plane Sight. The comments were glowing and the work popped. Amela Cikota Eavan O'Neil Adam Wayne Macgregor Mason Fiacco Anthony Leon Maddie Aunger Jessica Lambert Lael Salaets Alejandro

This Friday we’re opening our word-art group show OH MY WORD and Joan Rifkin’s Cartoon Carnival. Be here 5-8 to enjoy the show, meet the artists, and have some free food.

Photos from Public Defender's post 09/13/2026

HIGHLIGHT FROM PLANE SIGHT:

Macgregor Mason
“Structure: Green” | 2026
ceramic

“Structure: Purple” | 2026
ceramic

From the artist: “My objects are created by taking inspirations from architectural and art movements including Constructivism, Brutalism, and Bauhaus. I use these as a framework to put my own experiences and appreciations of an object stuck in a state of construction and disassemblage.

Taking these historical influences and concepts of a personalized language of design, I create objects stuck in the liminal space of appearing “unfinished”. Each object is created as a composition with the concept of internal structures represented on the exterior. Obscuring understandable moments of architecture into references to its function become a foundation for interaction with both the object and the viewer.

Buildings are functional in the same way ceramics are. We interact with all aspects of the building but only to the extent we need to. There is a logic or plan that is used to create the building but we aren’t necessarily shown what those designs are.”

— — — — — —

Plane Sight is on view at Public Defender in Belleville, IL it closes today! 11 a.m. to 4 PM

Photos from Public Defender's post 09/12/2026

HIGHLIGHT FROM PLANE SIGHT:

Maddie Aunger
“Warm Glow” | 2026
acrylic on panel

“Happenstance” | 2026
acrylic on panel

From the artist: “Aunger’s crisp acrylic paintings capture quiet everyday scenes of windows, doors, fences, and spaces around her home. When we slow down and pay attention, we are able to recognize patterns and learn the seasons and cycles of these places. The intentional observation the paintings stem from brings with it a sense of reverence and care. Compositional adjustments idealize and simplify the scene and remove distractions to extend the brevity of the moment. These moments encourage the viewer to reflect on their own interactions with space.”

— — — — — —

Plane Sight is on view at Public Defender in Belleville, IL now through this Sunday, September 13th.

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Telephone

Address

123 West Main Street
St. Louis, MO
62220

Opening Hours

Friday 9am - 6pm
Saturday 9am - 6pm
Sunday 11am - 4pm

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