In one of the most intense drives to register voters ever, the 2020 election saw cities across the country push citizens to have their voices heard. Madison was no exception, as a number of artists lent their talents in order to encourage others to uphold their civic duties.

In October, University of Wisconsin Art Professor Henrique Nardi had his class design a series of non-partisan posters in order to encourage voting. These original pieces by UW students now hang along the State Street side of the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art.

“I’m always trying to find opportunities for students to have their work out in the world so that they can see the community’s reaction to their work,” Nardi said to cityofmadison.com. “The election period is such a crucial moment for that interaction to happen. Partnering with the MMoCA and MAC is really exciting for all the students involved.”

This new collaboration by Nardi is one of many community improvement projects he has worked on as of late as he also recently completed the Madison Mural located on Monroe Street with the help of local street artist Triangulador earlier in September.

New York-based artist Jenny Holzer also paid a trip to Madison in order to strike up the urge to vote. Holzer’s typical art style involves the use of screens, LED lights and billboards, and her trip to Madison was no exception as her art took the form of digital messages appearing on large screens attached to the sides of box trucks.