A new art gallery and retail shop, Public Defender Art + Zines, will open in downtown Belleville on May 15, 2026, coinciding with the Art on the Square festival. Owned by local artists Danny Houk and Stacie Spaunhorst, the space at 123 W. Main St. will feature exhibitions, a retail shop selling indie comics and zines, and future plans for artist residencies and networking brunches. Opening exhibitions include ceramics by Alisha Porter and Sheri White.
This opening matters because it provides a dedicated venue for local and independent artists in Belleville, offering a platform for offbeat, self-published works like zines and indie comics that are often overlooked by mainstream outlets. By aligning with Art on the Square, the gallery taps into the city's existing arts festival audience, potentially strengthening the local creative community and encouraging more artists to pursue their craft.