Vermont Business Magazine Vermont artist Noa Younse of Richmond has been selected as the artist to develop a public art design for the Windsor Superior Courthouse in White River Junction.
Younse’s preliminary concept includes tiles that can be added or removed to fit the space. The design aims to build movement and connection between the upper and lower floors of the courthouse’s interior lobby.
Younse’s innovative concept was chosen from among five finalists who made public presentations of their concepts in March. Following a period of public input, a committee comprised of selected building employees, community members, and visual arts experts selected Younse to develop his design concept. The finalists were narrowed from an initial pool of 32 applicants.
Younse runs Pixel Patch Creative, a Vermont-based 3D visualization and public art studio. Younse has designed public art for communities around the country, from a Times Square Valentine’s Day heart art installation to a large-scale interactive public art piece for highly trafficked alleyways in downtown Chattanooga.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute my vision to the visual character of the courthouse. I hope I can evoke a sense of calm in a space often associated with varied emotions,” Younse said.
Younse was awarded $42,000 for the commission. The artist will now work with a local Art Selection Committee in White River Junction to further develop and refine the design concept. The courthouse building is currently undergoing renovations, which are estimated to be completed sometime in early 2026, at which time the public artwork will be ready for installation.
The commission is part of the Art in State Buildings Program, a partnership between the Vermont Arts Council and the Vermont Department of Buildings and General Services. Funded by the Art in State Buildings Act, the program allows capital construction projects to be selected each year.
Also as a part of the Art in State Buildings program, a public art commission—this one for the Vermont Department of Children and Families (DCF) Economic Services—was recently installed by artist Dan Gottsegen of Hartland.
Gottsegen’s collection of colorful paintings and imagery aim to create a welcoming, entertaining, and comforting experience for visitors and staff to the waiting room at DCF’s recently renovated offices on Lakeside Avenue in Burlington.
“My hope is that those things that give me solace, comfort, and joy—the natural world, the landscape of Vermont, light over distant ridges, love of family and community, and the sheer joy of color and paint—will give solace, comfort, strength, and joy to those who see these paintings,” Gottsegen said.
Gottsegen has received numerous commissions over the years. His paintings and accompanying glass work can be seen at the Vermont Forensics Laboratory in Waterbury also commissioned by the Art in State Buildings program and installed in 2012. His glasswork is also visible at the City Center Gateway on Dorset Street in South Burlington at the Healthy Living Market, at the Lamoille Valley Rail Trailhead parking lot in the village of Hyde Park, and at the Westminster Light Rail Station for the Denver (CO) Regional Transportation District.
The public is invited to attend a celebration of the artist and the installation of the paintings at the DCF office on Tuesday, April 29 from 4:30 – 5:30 pm at 128 Lakeside Ave. in Burlington.
Since 1988, the Art in State Buildings program has commissioned artwork from over 60 artists to appear in 36 state-owned buildings and public spaces across Vermont.
“The Art in State Buildings program is a wonderful opportunity to enhance our physical space, support Vermont artists, and create a warm and welcoming environment for our employees and the Vermonters we serve,” said Dawn O’Toole, chief of operations office at the State of Vermont Agency of Human Services.
“The works of art commissioned through the Art in State Buildings program build a distinctive sense of place, support cultural tourism, and are a key attribute in making communities healthier and more vibrant. We are proud to administer this program,” said Vermont Arts Council Executive Director Susan Evans McClure.
More information about the Art in State Buildings Program can be found at https://www.vermontartscouncil.org/grants/find-a-grant/artists/art-in-state-buildings/
About the Vermont Arts Council
The Vermont Arts Council envisions a Vermont where all people have access to the arts and creativity in their lives, education, and communities. Engagement with the arts transforms individuals, connects us more deeply to each other, energizes the economy, and sustains the vibrant cultural landscape that makes Vermont a great place to live. Since 1965, the Council has been the state’s primary provider of funding, advocacy, and information for the arts in Vermont.
4.22.2025. MONTPELIER, VT—Learn more at www.vermontartscouncil.org
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