#cincinnatimurals

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BLINK CINCINNATI

by Mr June

In late 2020, as St Pete's Grand Central Brewhouse was still preparing to open. Music loving founder Kevin Milkey wanted to honor the previous business in that location and its popular record cover-lined walls. He turned to local Tampa Bay artist Carrie Jadus to paint this larger than life imaginary gathering of Bob Marley, Bono, Bruce Springsteen, Lady Gaga, Eddie Vedder, and John Legend. At that point the hardest part of the project began, says Jadus. A massive scavenger hunt through countless   

LOCATION: 1618 Elm St, Cincinnati, OH 45202

IG: @davidjunelouf @blinkcincinnati

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"JUSTINE"

Designed by Kingsley Nebechi  /  Painted by Javarri Lewis

London-based Nigerian graphic designer and artist Kingsley Nebechi took a leap from work as creative director to focus on his own work, landing an impressive list of clients of name brand clients. For the 2022 edition of @BlinkCincinnati Festival this Nebechi design was painted near the Pleasant St entrance to @FindlayMarket by local artist Javarri Lewis. Much of Lewis's personal work centers around Black art and the Black family and he says he's also interested in "creating positive things people can see on a daily basis"—interests which come together perfectly in this homage to Black women painted in a bustling part of Cincinnati with a rich and diverse history. 

LOCATION: Pleasant St & Glass Alley, Cincinnati, OH 45202

@kingsleynebechi/  @javarrilewis/

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"STILL SHINES THROUGH"

by Max Sansing

Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Max Sansing was involved with several graffiti crews before pursuing formal art training. Sansing is now one of the city's most prolific artists, working both in the studio and on walls. In Cincinnati for the 2022 BLINK festival Max added this splash of color in the rapidly transforming Findlay Market neighborhood. "In speaking with locals about the area, I put together a vision that would feature the youth of the community looking towards the future of it throughout the growth and change," Sansing says about the piece. 

LOCATION: 1814 Race St., Cincinnati, OH 45202

@maxsansing/   @blinkcincinnati/

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"SPITFIRE SQUIRRELS AND BONE BOMBING BULLDOGS"

by Danny Gamble

Cincinnati artist Danny Gamble told MOTR Pub he began with graffiti and comic book illustrations in the 90s before moving into the mural and commercial sign painting world. Now the owner/operator of Wild Style Signs, Gamble's work covers a broad gamut of styles but the energetic graffiti motif of his roots continues to make regular appearances. In 2019 Gamble painted this fantastical battle scene in Cincinnati's Findlay Market district across from Rheingeist Brewing.

LOCATION: 2009 Elm St, Cincinnati, OH 45202

@danny_gamble/

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"THE YOUNG CAN LEARN FROM THE OLD CAN LEARN FROM THE YOUNG..."

by Herakut

Completed in 1845 the Miami and Erie Canal ran for 274 miles connecting Cincinnati and Toledo, Ohio. Referred to as The Rhine of Ohio it was soon unable to compete with burgeoning rail networks and fell into disuse, but not before the late 1840's influx of displaced German refugees adopted Over-the-Rhine as the name of their new Cincinnati neighborhood across the canal from the city. 150 years later the 2000's has brought massive and sometimes controversial change to this historic neighborhood, raising common questions like benefit vs human costs of "revitalization" and "gentrification." How much of this background went into the thinking of famed German street art duo Herakut as they created this wall for Cincinnati's Blink Festival in 2017 two blocks from the old canal route? I couldn't say, but the message of generations needing to be open to learning from each other seems all the more poignant in this setting and this time.

@blinkcincinnati/  @herakut/  @akut_herakut/  @hera_herakut/

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November 29, 2018

“#5: WE ARE WALNUT HILLS / 5 POINTS ALLEY”

by Morag Myerscough, Jenny Ustick, and ArtWorks

Sitting on a quarter-acre patch of land near East McMillan Avenue and Gilbert Street in the historic and diverse Walnut Hills neighborhood of Cincinnati, 5 Points Alley Park has become an important symbol of renewal and a magnet for new business. A partnership between Cincinnati’s 22-year-old community mural program, @ArtWorksCincy,@WalnutHillsRF, and @theBLDG capped a series of five mural commissions marking the entries to the park with this, the largest of the series. Designed by North London designer Morag Myerscough with her characteristic bold use of color, shape, and typography, the composition was handed off to Jenny Ustick who oversaw the ArtWorks team putting paint on the wall.  @moragmyerscough/  @j_r_ustick/

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August 14, 2018

“THE SINGING MURAL”

by CF Payne, Jenny Roesel Ustick, and ArtWorks

Cincinnati native C.F. Payne is an internationally renowned illustrator and caricaturist who’s work has appeared on covers of prominent publications like @Time Magazine, the “Molly” books of the American Girl series, and a series of postage stamps featuring famous singers. In 2011 Payne created a tribute to participants in Cincinnati’s rich cultural legacy, including a portrait of Leontyne Price, the first African American to become a leading artist for @MetOpera, performing the lead in Aida. Talented local artist and muralist Jenny Roesel Ustick was then tasked by Artworks Cincinnati with translating Payne’s artwork for the side wall of CET, the local PBS affiliate, on Central Parkway across the street from the city’s historic Music Hall—leading a team of three teaching assistants and 15 youth apprentices.  @cfoxpayne  @j_r_ustick  @artworkscincy