Gilchrist Foundation Helps Revitalize West 7th Street with New Mural
Sioux City’s West 7th Street area is getting a colorful update, thanks in part to the Gilchrist Foundation.
The Foundation partnered with 712 Market Street owners Nathan and Rachel Phillips, the City of Sioux City and artist Jill Wells to create a new mural. Located on the north side of 712 Market Street, the mural is highly visible from Wesley Parkway.
Work began in May 2025 and was completed in July. The mural celebrates music, volunteerism and community engagement, key values that align with the Gilchrist Foundation’s grant-making priorities.
Residents and clients from Opportunities Unlimited were involved in the creative process, working directly with Wells. PBS was also onsite to document the mural’s development.
West 7th Corridor Project
Over the past several years, millions of dollars have been invested in West 7th Street, from Wesley Parkway to Hamilton Boulevard, through street reconstruction and the city’s façade improvement program. This mural is the fourth in a series installed throughout the corridor.
The first two murals were completed in fall 2021 at 214 and 219 West 7th Street. The third was finished in fall 2022 at 809-11 West 7th Street.
The Gilchrist Foundation has helped support this artistic initiative. In 2020, the Foundation awarded $30,000 to the Siouxland Chamber Foundation for street-based public art projects.
About the Artist
Jill Wells is an American artist, advocate and mentor based in Iowa. Her work explores the intersection of accessibility, disability inequality, race and history, often incorporating tactile and Braille-infused elements into public art.
Wells works across multiple mediums, including painting, performance, sound, light, tactile objects and large-scale murals, to challenge social hierarchies and promote inclusivity.
A 2005 graduate of Drake University with a BFA in painting and art history, Wells founded the ARTIST X ADVOCACY (AXA) Mentorship Program in 2020 to support emerging Iowa artists of all abilities.
One of her notable achievements is creating Iowa’s first multisensory tactile mural at Martin Luther King Elementary School in 2023, along with the state’s first 3D mural project. Her innovative use of tactile materials and Braille has sparked widespread conversation and positioned her as a leader in inclusive art.
Wells has exhibited and presented both nationally and internationally, including at the United Nations, The Zero Project in Vienna, the International Conference Center in Belfast, Al-Quds Bard College in East Jerusalem, the University of Iowa Belin-Blank Center, the Dubuque Museum of Art and the Des Moines Art Center. She is a Harkin Institute inaugural artist fellow, a TEDx speaker and the recipient of the 2024 Tanne Award. Her work is held in public and private collections worldwide.
About the Gilchrist Foundation
The Gilchrist Foundation carries on the philanthropic legacy of the Gilchrist family. Its mission emphasizes long-term sustainability for charitable organizations and support for special projects rather than short-term operating needs.
The Foundation awards funds and incentives to pre-selected nonprofit organizations, with a focus on the Sioux City area. Funding priorities include wildlife and conservation, arts and public broadcasting, and disaster relief.
Contact the Foundation with any questions about how we support the arts in Siouxland.