ArtWorks 2024 Annual Report

YOUTH APPRENTICES

Lead Teaching Artist:

Apprentices:

Dam Minh Hy

Katie Frazee

Abby McCuen

Isabella Urcaregui Naranjo

Teo Uribe

Inspired by the spirit of artists’ studios where experimentation, curiosity, and growth thrive, apprentices began with hands-on exploration in photography, scanning, collage, and mixed media.

This process shaped the aesthetic of the report itself allowing the warmth of handmade marks, whether digital or analog to come through. The goal is for readers to feel more connected to the artists, staff, and Youth Apprentices who bring creativity to life across our city.

Throughout this project the apprentices also engaged in daily reflective writing, culminating in a collective Apprentice Manifesto that speaks to their values and vision as young designers.

This report is the result of thoughtful design thinking, collaboration, and care.

Dear ArtWorks Community,

In 2024, we turned the key on a dream years in the making: finalizing our new Creative Campus in Walnut Hills and nearing completion of the Hannan ArtPark. With walls to call our own and a front yard built for inspiration, we’ve created a home base where artists, partners, and community members can gather, grow, and dream together.

This year’s theme, “Welcome Home,” is more than a greeting it’s a reflection of our mission to employ and empower artists to transform our city. And now, for the first time in our history, we’re able to bring our programs and projects under one roof, working in a permanent home built to foster belonging, spark innovation, and open doors to possibility. We put tremendous care into every decision of our new headquarters, creating an inspiring space for all to gather. For example, we employed over 50 artists to create gorgeous works of art for the Creative Campus with our mission as the center focus.

Beyond this epic project, we worked with our community to bring stories of courage, culture, and civic pride to life through public art. Whether it was “The Yellow Bus” mural by Loren Long at Queen City Book Bank, highlighting the inspiring mission to champion literacy or “The Courage to Give” celebrating organ donors in partnership with LifeCenter, or “Let There Be Light” a new tribute mural to the Cincinnati Jewish Bicentennial and Jewish Culture, our projects served as love letters to the people and organizations of Cincinnati. We also celebrated joy through “Spectator’s Advantage” at the Cincinnati Open, in celebration of Cincinnati being the continued home for professional tennis.

We had the chance to welcome iconic artist Shepard Fairey to create his first-ever largescale mural in Ohio as part of our statewide Get Out the Vote initiative. It was exciting to work across our entire home state and bring public art to four different cities, including Cincinnati and inspire voter engagement.

In 2024, we were honored to be named the #1 City for Street Art by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, our fourth year on the list, and our first at the top! ArtWorks also achieved Gold-level Leader in Workplace Equity certification from Ellequate and launched a new Camera Studio, expanding creative career pathways and yearlong employment for young adults.

We reached more audiences than ever before through murals featured in BLINK, national media coverage in The Saturday Evening Post, and creative tours like the inaugural Black Art Walk. We also proudly took on stewardship of the Red Door Project, amplifying the work of 100 local artists.

This annual report highlights these stories, and so many more. To all of our artists, partners, donors, sponsors, neighbors, and champions: thank you. Your belief in our work makes it all possible. Together, we are building a more vibrant, welcoming, and equitable city. Together, we are at home.

With gratitude and excitement,

Colleen Houston CEO & Artistic Director

OUR MISSION

ArtWorks creates community-based public art that provides career opportunities for artists of all ages.

OUR VALUES

We find a way.

We thrive through diversity. We believe art enhances life. We learn together.

CREATING COMMUNITY BASED PUBLIC ART

For 29 years, ArtWorks has been a driving force in Cincinnati’s creative community, fueling the careers of young artists, shaping neighborhood pride, commissioning world-renowned talent to design public art projects, and putting our city on the global arts map.

As the largest contributor to Cincinnati’s public art gallery, our work has helped earn the city national and international recognition, most recently a spot in the 2024 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for Best City for Street Art, marking our fourth consecutive year in the top 10.

Our murals and public art projects are rooted in community engagement, ensuring that local stories, cultures, and aspirations are woven into each piece. This collaborative spirit has produced more than 14,000 public and private works of art, including over 350 permanent outdoor murals, transforming the city into an open-air gallery that celebrates both its history and its future.

PROVIDING CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS OF ALL AGES

Since 1996, ArtWorks has employed more than 4,200 young artists (ages 14–24) and 3,500 professional artists from the Greater Cincinnati region, paying living wages while providing transformative experiences in leadership, confidence, and creative expression.

ArtWorks provides unique workforce development programs in the arts that drive our creative economy, providing a living wage for all participants. Through three signature programs; seasonal arts based employment, year-round creative studio employment, and our Gallery Fellowship Program, ArtWorks offers unmatched opportunities for emerging artists to hone their craft alongside seasoned professionals and internationally recognized creators. Beyond our core programs, we have shaped the city’s cultural identity as a co founder of BLINK® and as a trusted provider of services such as Curation, Creative Consulting, Artist Calls, Sculpture, and Art Restoration.

ArtWorks is, and always has been, where art works for Cincinnati.

CORE PROGRAMS

At ArtWorks, we believe in the power of art to build careers. Our three core programs, Youth Apprentice Program, Creative Studios, and Gallery Fellowship, offer young people meaningful, paid opportunities to develop as artists and professionals. Each program is designed to provide workforce readiness through realworld experience, mentorship, and tailored professional development. Participants not only grow creatively but also gain the tools and confidence to pursue future employment or entrepreneurship in the creative economy.

Youth Apprentice Program

The Youth Apprentice Program is ArtWorks’ longestrunning initiative, providing paid, seasonal employment for young people ages 14–21. Apprentices work 20–30 hours per week over eight weeks, collaborating side-by-side with professional artists to create large-scale public art, performance or literary art. Through hands-on projects, apprentices gain job skills, expand their networks, and grow as leaders and collaborators.

Creative Studios

Creative Studios offers year-round employment for emerging artists, post high school ages 18–24 through handson work in two creative service areas: mural production and photo/video. Artists not only hone their technical and production skills, but also gain real-world experience in project

CREATING PATHWAYS FOR CREATIVE EMPLOYMENT

management by working with clients, and managing timelines. This program is ideal for young creatives looking to launch freelance careers or land jobs in agencies and the broader creative economy. Artists leave the program with a professional portfolio and the confidence to take their next step.

Gallery Fellowship

The Gallery Fellowship supports emerging artists ages 16–24 to grow their creative and professional practice. Fellows work alongside a professional artist to learn new mediums and artistic processes, while creating original art which is exhibited and sold in ArtWorks’ Your Name Here Gallery, where they receive the majority of the proceeds. Fellows also develop essential career skills, including how to write an artist statement, price their work, deliver an artist talk, and understand best practices for curating and installing exhibitions.

HIGHLIGHTS BY THE NUMBERS

$2,326,782.49

Wages paid to professional, teen and young adult artists, arts administrators and creatives.

386 208

Teen and young adult participants (Apprentices, Studio Artists, Gallery Fellows)

11 38 54 281 316 24MM

Employed professional, teen and young adult artists and arts administrators, and contracted creatives

47,502 8,302

Hours of professional development/ career training

Community Investment

Neighborhoods directly invested in through public art.

Permanent public murals created.

Community partners

Works of art created in communities and in the V2 gallery.

Residents and visitors to the region who attended ArtWorks mural tours.

Residents and visitors who had the chance to experience ArtWorks murals.

MEET THE YOUTH ARTISTS

Workforce Program Results

Youth made meaningful gains in two or more career capacities (collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and creativity)

Youth made meaningful gains in one or more adaptive mindset capacities (growth orientation and goal orientation)

Youth reported program satisfaction and would recommend a friend

Youth Demographics | 208 Artists

Young artists identify as BIPOC

Young

CELEBRATING SUCCESS

2024 was a Bold Year of Firsts & Milestones for ArtWorks:

Cincinnati Named #1 for Street Art

Ranked #1 in USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards, after four years in the top 10.

Workplace Equity Leadership

Achieved Gold-level certification from Ellequate for leadership in workplace equity.

Growing Partnerships

Expanded youth employment through new partnership with Hamilton County and Talbert House for hiring, financial support, and professional development.

Creative Campus

Completed and moved into the new ArtWorks building in Walnut Hills.

Completed iconic art installations for the Hannan ArtPark with contemporary artists Charles Gaines and Roberto Lugo, supporting the local art corridor.

Artistic Firsts

Completed first statewide public art project in partnership across four cities.

Completed first-ever rooftop mural at Freestore Foodbank, visible from CVG flight paths.

Launched the inaugural Black Art Walk with the City of Cincinnati and community partners.

MAX RUSH

When it comes to rising to the occasion, Max Rush didn’t just take off, they soared. In 2024, Max was recognized for their exceptional contributions to Skyward: Honoring the Tuskegee Legacy, ArtWorks’ project that aims to uncover and preserve the powerful legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen from Ohio.

Max brought a dynamic blend of focus, energy, and professionalism to a project filled with complexity. What began as an effort to write 50 short biographies of Tuskegee Airmen from Ohio evolved into a broader historical undertaking, one that uncovered untold stories and challenged long-held assumptions.

“The project asked a lot, and Max never backed down,” said Devin Grimm, ArtWorks’ Senior Creative Projects Manager.

Through Max’s work, the initial list of 50 Ohio-born pilots had grown to 78. They also began uncovering the lesser-known, but equally essential, roles in the Tuskegee Airmen’s operations: navigators, mechanics, radio operators, nurses, cooks, and more.

Max’s sharp attention to detail and unrelenting curiosity led them to historians, family members, and members of the Northeast Ohio Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen Inc., helping

to reshape the narrative. Max reframed the project into one that highlights the full team of unsung heroes.

Their work helped lay the foundation for the future ArtWorks public art installations that will celebrate the full legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen.

“I realized I could incorporate more of my artistic side into my professional career. I realized that public art –especially murals, is the most successful way to educate about history and culture. Everyone is going to see it. Visually, it’s inspiring...This project completely redefined how I saw my future as an artist and an activist.”

-Max

ArtWorks’ HANNAN ARTPARK STUNS WITH

CHARLES GAINES MURAL

ArtWorks’ Hannan Art Park is a vibrant transformation of a once-vacant lot into a community space centered on art and connection. Previously home to a condemned building and later overgrown and surrounded by graffiti, this beautiful park now features world class art.

At the heart of the ArtPark is “Numbers and Trees: Cincinnati Cottonwoods” (2024), the first mural in Cincinnati by renowned conceptual artist Charles Gaines. The piece was made possible by working with Creative Time who is bringing a significant Gaines sculpture and installation to Cincinnati in 2025: American Manifest : Moving Chains. Gaines is a renowned contemporary artist and this is his first public outdoor mural in the world.

Now in his 80’s he has had an illustrious career, teaching, and exhibiting art in major museums. This mural reflects Gaines’ signature numbered grid technique, and features local cottonwood trees as a symbol of growth, identity, and belonging.

The mural anchors this new community gathering space and features a sidewalk gallery, greenspace, and new infrastructure to better connect the neighborhood.

“I loved learning the story behind Charles Gaines’ art and had the chance to make his design real up on the wall. To me, the piece represents that there’s always growth and light. Even when things seem dark — there’s always going to be a great spring or a bloom,” said ArtWorks Apprentice Ellie Glenn.

Location:

2412 Gilbert Avenue, Walnut Hills

Designer: Charles Gaines

Teaching Artists: Mark Hanavan (Lead)

Lily Fast

Jeshua Schuster

Fatemeh Shekarforoush

Joining the mural is a new gateway sculpture and monument to Walnut Hills that welcomes visitors to enter the park by nationally acclaimed artist Roberto Lugo. Lugo’s piece, incorporates designs from Walnut Hills residents, and celebrates the neighborhood’s rich history and African American culture with community-inspired design. Called “Put Yourself in the Picture: Cincinnati,” Lugo added an archway to this sculpture to invite viewers to step inside and become the subject of the artwork, much like the portrait vignettes in his pottery; the sculpture becomes a monument to empower and remind the viewer that story, family, culture, and identity are worthy of recognition.

The surface decoration of this sculpture was designed collaboratively with community residents, featuring motifs collected from pattern-making workshops led by local Walnut Hills artists Kathryne Gardette and Gary Dangel.

Together, these works reflect ArtWorks’ mission to transform public spaces and uplift local voices through art.

“This is a journey of pure creativity on Gilbert Avenue, and a catalyst for positive change.” Neighbors reached out and described watching the development of this park as a phoenix rising from the ashes.

- Kathryne Gardette, Walnut Hills leader and artist

Apprentices:

Kyllie Allen

Kaiya Batton

Katie Collins

Alex Cribbin

Sam Fluker

Katie Frazee

Ellie Glenn

Mason Huster

Vinny Ilunga

Nathan Knoll

August Martin

Abel Mooney-Bullock

Alaina Rizzo

Ellie Rockford

Jackson Sackenheim

Jeffery Samuel

Sylvie Tiro

Batise Tucker

Marcus Walker

Neal Wefers

Olivia Werner

Leading up to the 2024 election, ArtWorks joined forces with arts organizations across Ohio to spark voter enthusiasm through the “Get Out the Vote” project, and ArtWorks led a large-scale statewide public art component by inviting renowned street artist Shepard Fairey to create over forty voting inspired murals.

The project brought Fairey to town for his first large-scale mural in Cincinnati as well as dozens of smaller wheatpaste murals in Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton and Springfield. ArtWorks Apprentices had a chance to work with Fairey to apply the wheatpaste murals and work on the permanent mural in Cincinnati.

Additionally, 12 Ohio-based artists contributed to the creation of nonpartisan voter yard signs, which were distributed for free across the state.

“Working alongside Shepard Fairey was an incredibly enriching experience. It felt good to know that the work that we were doing could help encourage others to exercise their civic duty,” said ArtWorks Apprentice Kema Tewodros.

ArtWorks expanded this public art effort by building a largescale coalition featuring CreativeOhio’s ArtsVote Ohio initiative and the Greater Columbus Arts Council among others, as well as local entities such as ArtsWave, the Contemporary Arts Center, and the Art Academy of Cincinnati.

In addition to the mural project, Fairey participated in a series of talks in Cincinnati and Columbus including students at the Art Academy of Cincinnati and Columbus College of Design and a public talk at the Contemporary Arts Center.

Voter registration events were hosted by all participating arts organizations as well.

Apprentices:

Kema Tewodros

Lexi Theurerling

A team of 11 ArtWorks Youth Apprentices and two Teaching Artists transformed a joyful scene from the book, The Yellow Bus into a colorful public artwork.

The mural captured the spirit of Long’s story: a forgotten school bus that rediscovers purpose through helping others, mirroring QCBB’s mission to foster a love of reading in Cincinnati’s children.

This joyful collaboration showcased ArtWorks’ commitment to employing youth, uplifting communities, and using art to spark change, one brushstroke, and one book, at a time.

ArtWorks partnered with celebrated author-illustrator Loren Long and the Queen City Book Bank (QCBB) to capture The Yellow Bus, Long’s newest children’s book, as a large-scale mural at QCBB’s headquarters in Queensgate.

THE YELLOW

YELLOW BUS

“Art, for me, goes hand-in-hand with storytelling. It is embedded in the work that we do to encourage imagination for childre. We were just humbled and grateful to get to bring this story to life.”

- Michelle Otten Guenther, CEO of QCBB.

Location: 1200 Gest St., Queensgate

Designer: Loren Long

Teaching Artists: Paul Loehle (Lead) Brooke Owens

Apprentices: Ester Blazer

Ava Bunke

Kaden Carpenter

Kellogg Dani Lee

Josiyah Mateo

Alyssa Moore

Katherine Murillo Sky Reimer

Madison Scruggs

Will Jones

JERRY SPRINGER’S LEGACY WITH TENDER MERCIES

“Jerry’s Message,” a mural in partnership with Tender Mercies, a nonprofit that provides housing and supportive services for adults experiencing homelessness and mental illness, was created to honor one of Cincinnati’s most recognizable figures—Jerry Springer. Best known as a former mayor and iconic television host, Springer left a legacy of compassion, curiosity, and civic spirit.

After Springer’s passing in 2023, longtime friend Jene Galvin and Cincinnati City Councilmember Jeff Cramerding approached ArtWorks with a vision: to create a mural that would reflect Jerry’s values and continue his mission of helping others.

In addition to brightening the Tender Mercies campus, the mural included a plaque with a QR code, enabling visitors to donate directly to the organization.

“Jerry wouldn’t have wanted a tribute just about him. He’d want it to serve a purpose—supporting Tender Mercies fits the theme of his life’s sign-off: ‘Take care of yourself and each other.’”

- Jene Galvin

Location: 27 W. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine

Designer: Brady Corcoran

Teaching Artists:

Jaylin Stewart (Lead)

Emily Mallot

Apprentices: Audrey Carranza

Olivia Hahn

Riley Johnson

Sophie Koehl

Hal Loomis

Jessie Miller

ArtWorks partnered with the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati to celebrate the rich history and enduring spirit of Cincinnati’s Jewish community. Part of ArtWorks’ commitment to celebrating diverse cultures, the work incorporates ritual objects, Hebrew lettering, and architectural references to iconic Jewish buildings in Cincinnati.

The idea for the mural was born during Jewish Cincinnati’s Bicentennial in 2021 and became part of ArtWorks’ Cultural Mural Series.

A community-led Mural Design Committee shaped the direction of the piece, with representatives from the Jewish Federation, ArtWorks, and numerous local Jewish leaders.

“Cincinnati’s 200-year-old Jewish cultural history deserves to be celebrated, and what a beautiful way to do so with this mural. We hope this project will instill a sense of pride within the Jewish community and help tell the story about the many positive contributions we have made in Cincinnati,”

- Felicia H. Zakem, Chief Planning Officer, Jewish Federation of Cincinnati.

Location:

Thomas Morrow House 124 W. 9th Street, Downtown

Designer: Jessica Tamar Deutsch, with support from Monte Jones

Teaching Artists:

Hannah Parrett (Co-Lead)

Kenton Brett (Co-Lead)

Monte Jones

Apprentices:

Nico Breen

Twon Brown

Joseph Deters

Kelsey Gallagher

Sheridan Hennessey

Mira McKinney

Angela Ramirez

Lena Richards

Marlon Rudolph

Lexi Theurling

Vivien Sam

Caitlin Sloane

THE COURAGE TO GIVE CELEBRATES

LIFE-CHANGING IMPACT

ArtWorks partnered with LifeCenter Organ Donor Network to honor the powerful impact of organ donation. The mural explores themes of life, renewal, and human interconnectedness, encouraging the community to register as organ, tissue, and eye donors.

The mural’s design draws inspiration from the personal stories of individuals whose lives have been transformed through organ donation. Its imagery reflects the emotional and physical journey of both donors and recipients, serving as a tribute to the selfless act of giving life.

The mural is a visual representation of hope and renewal, which aims to foster awareness about the importance of organ donation, urging viewers to consider the profound impact they can have on others’ lives.

The Courage to Give serves as a lasting reminder of the lifesaving potential within each of us, encouraging the public to join the movement of giving the gift of life.

Cincinnati would not be as vibrant as it is without ArtWorks. They have allowed for so many opportunities for young people to get involved and get paid.

Location:

Thatcher Flats, 933 Lincoln Ave.,

Walnut Hills

Designer:

Jeni Jenkins

Teaching Artists:

Michael Thompson (Lead)

Yordy Cabrera Garcia

Apprentices:

Alexia Hale

Vivian Brown

Lenny Gilbert

Leo Mooney-Bullock

Marin Myers

London Penn-Jacobs

Sarai Roach

Sara Salem

Sarah Schnadower

Trinity Slocum

Kema Tewodros

Luke Thamman

ArtWorks’ “Spectator’s Advantage,” in collaboration with the Cincinnati Open, highlights the tournament’s significant impact on both the sport of tennis and the community.

The Cincinnati Open, founded in 1899, is a prestigious ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 tournament, attracting over 200,000 fans worldwide. The event has raised more than $12 million over the past 50 years to benefit local nonprofits such as Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, UC Health Cancer, and Tennis for City Youth.

The design for the mural draws inspiration from the excitement and energy of tennis. It pays tribute to not only the sport but also the fans and volunteers who make the event possible.

“Together with ArtWorks, this project epitomizes the spirit of the Cincinnati Open – a vibrant celebration of tennis created by the community for all to see.”

- Bob Moran, President of Beemok Sports and Entertainment

Location:

838 Reedy St., Downtown

Designer: Allison Seiffer

Teaching Artists: Sophie

Apprentices:

Maanya Mehrotra Tabs

Sam

Elise

Emma

Deja

Zoe Wooten

SUNFLOWERS BLOOM IN PRICE HILL

A new mural titled “Sunflowers” now brightens the walls of the Price Hill Community Resource Center, a celebration of the joy found in nature, recreation, and community. Created through the ongoing partnership between ArtWorks and the Cincinnati Recreation Commission (CRC), the mural captures the spirit of neighborhood connection and creativity.

“Sunflowers” is inspired by the colors and energy of the surrounding Price Hill neighborhood. Viewers will find bold depictions of blooming sunflowers, fluttering birds, and buzzing bees, imagery that encourages residents and visitors alike to feel welcome in the space. The mural draws from folk art and illustration traditions, blending natural motifs with playful design elements that reflect the joy of gathering together in shared public spaces.

The transformative collaboration between ArtWorks and CRC, which began in 2018, includes a dozen murals across the city, all designed to enhance community centers and reflect the unique stories of Cincinnati neighborhoods.

“The addition of these bright and impactful works of art will welcome all ages and cultures for years to come. CRC and ArtWorks continue to be a transformative team in the Cincinnati communities we serve.”

- Chris Pike, Cincinnati Recreation Commission’s Senior Management Analyst.

Location:

Price Hill Recreation Center

959 Hawthorne Avenue

Designer:

Lizzy DuQuette

Teaching Artists:

Jaylin Stewart (lead)

Tevin Brown

Apprentices: Nico Breen

Ava Bunke

Elliot Gash

Evelyn Jones

Malea Love

Geni Rericha

Alaina Rizzo

Madison Scruggs

MORE PROJECTS

You Are Your Best Thing Mural

This project honored Walnut Hills’ legacy, celebrating its history, culture, and community growth. Through a quilt-inspired motif, it reflected strength, support, and the transformative power of shared stories in Cincinnati.

Designer:

Adrienne Gaither

Teaching Artists:

Noam Denenberg (Lead)

Kelsy Gray

Apprentices:

Connor Becker-Clark

Eliot Flaig

Hadassah Freeman

Wayne Harris III

Josh Kimble

Na’Niyah Millen

Pones Dance Project

ArtWorks partnered with Pones to create a dance apprenticeship program for Cincinnati youth. Apprentices worked with professional artists, performed in the community, built portfolios, and activated two ArtWorks murals, fostering creativity, inclusivity, and professional growth.

Apprentices:

Fiona Bradley

August Brown

Riley Coleman

Mari Diggs

Wilbur Fried

Dinithi Fernando

Malia Howard

Gus Wissimeier

Teaching Artist:

Kim Popa (Lead)

Hattie Clark

& PARTICIPANTS

Skyward: Honoring the Tuskegee Legacy

A research-based project led by ArtWorks apprentices to uncover and preserve the history of the Tuskegee Airmen from Ohio. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first Black pilots and support crews in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, breaking barriers of segregation and discrimination while serving their country with distinction.

Through extensive research, apprentices gathered stories, archival materials, and historical records to highlight the courageous contributions of these Ohio-connected Airmen. The project not only honored the veterans themselves but also ensured that their legacy of perseverance, excellence, and service is remembered by future generations.

Tuskegee Airmen Research Apprenticeship

Apprentices: Gabriel Brooks

Max Rush

Sona and Soma

ArtWorks partnered with The Well to produce a publication exploring generational, identity, and racial trauma through photography. The project celebrated culture and belonging, inspiring teens and young adults to build resilience, self-reflection, and career-ready skills through arts-based learning.

True Body Photography Project with The Well and FotoFocus

Teaching Artists:

Stacy Sims (Lead)

Elan Schwartz

Apprentices:

Nora Bower

Luna Debono

Elke Hounshell

NaRaya Johnson

Regan Jordan

Erica Knauls

Forrest Money

Madisin Motley

Finley Smith

JaNyla Smith

Nae Staley

Ash Wesolowski

HUSTLE N’ BUSTLE

In partnership with Hines, located at Whole Foods, Rookwood Commons & Pavilion

Location: Rookwood Commons & Pavilion | 2693 Edmondson Road, Cincinnati, OH 45209

Designer: Matt Grote

Teaching Artists: Matt Grote (Lead) Eddie Garland Nazanin Najdmofarrah

Apprentices:

Kamarra Allman

Maeve Clancy

Zarya Kastick

London Kuntz

Cedes Lagdameo

Jyaire Lawrence

Keegan Myers

Kennedi Parker

JP Pope

Caleb Rothring

Deron Spicer

Violet Underhill

Piper Vice

Adri Waller

In summer 2024, ArtWorks returned to Rookwood Commons & Pavilion for the second year of collaboration with partner Hines to deliver Hustle n’ Bustle—a bold, large-scale mural that enlivens this popular retail and pedestrian hub. This dynamic artwork was designed by celebrated Cincinnati-based artist and educator Matt Grote, who also served as Lead Teaching Artist on the project, guiding a team of 14 youth Apprentices alongside Teaching Artists Eddie Garland and Nazanin Najdmofarrah.

Paying tribute to Norwood’s rich history and evolving identity, Hustle n’ Bustle draws visual inspiration from the textures of the Wasson Way Trail, the pulse of local retail, and the vibrant character of the surrounding neighborhood. The mural’s layered imagery and intricate patterns evoke the intersection of movement, community, and natural beauty—an invitation to pause and appreciate the unique spirit of place.

The project apprentices brought this mural to life through their talent, hard work, and collaboration. Hustle n’ Bustle is not only a celebration of Norwood— it’s a testament to the power of art to connect people and transform space.

BLINK LIGHTS UP ArtWorks’ MURALS

Five ArtWorks murals were in the spotlight during Blink 2024, illuminated by ArtsWave —the nation’s largest public light and art festival.

As highlighted in the national Forbes article “Blink, But Don’t Sleep On The Arts In Cincinnati,” the festival—and the murals that help define it—are keeping Cincinnati in the national spotlight as a city powered by creativity and community.

Illuminated ArtWorks Murals:

• Healthcare Heroes Save the Day – Newport, Kentucky

• Armstrong – Downtown

• Toy Heritage – Downtown

• Homage to Cincinnatus – Downtown

• Energy & Grace – Over-the-Rhine

ArtWorks PRESENTS

THE RED D00R PR0JECT

In 2024, the Red Door Project celebrated its 10th anniversary by officially becoming an ArtWorks program. Originally founded in 2014 by Barbara Hauser, the Red Door Project began as a series of pop-up galleries in Over-the-Rhine, turning vacant storefronts into lively art spaces.

In its first year with ArtWorks, the events featured 100 works by community artists, first with the Art Academy of Cincinnati in Overthe-Rhine, then in Esoteric in Walnut Hills and Hotel Covington in Northern Kentucky.

Over the past decade, Red Door has showcased hundreds of local artists in neighborhoods across Greater Cincinnati. Artists of all ages are invited to participate, with 75% of sales going to artists.

ArtWorks is happy to support this program as a way to uplift local artists, create opportunities to buy and sell art, and build community through shared creativity. Each exhibit celebrates a theme and pops up in a new location. Red Door exhibit themes in 2024 were: Home and Light.

Exhibitions are open to all local artists.

“The Red Door Project is all about making art accessible,to give them a platform to exhibit and sell their work and make connections with the art community.”

Barbara Hauser

ArtWorks Gallery Fellowship Program

Launched in 2021, the ArtWorks Gallery Fellowship Program supports emerging artists (ages 16–24) in preparing for their first gallery exhibition. Experienced professional artists-in-residence are selected to mentor a group of eight to ten young artists per cohort, guiding them in creating and presenting their work.

Fellows learn through collaborative projects and workshops about gallery operations, including art handling, installation, pricing, and marketing, crafting artist statements and public speaking. Each exhibition features a public opening, a group artist talk with Q&A, and a community engagement activity.

ArtWorks’ V² Gallery was a pop-up gallery made possible through the generosity of V², also known as Vandell Verdona, a collaboration between longtime ArtWorks supporters Sara and Michelle Vance Waddell and Ron Houck and David Nebel. Special thanks to HER Cincinnati for hosting now this gallery space.

In 2025, the gallery transitioned to its permanent home located within ArtWorks’ new Creative Campus, and is now Your Name Here Gallery.

Chiaroscuro

Artists-in-Residence:

Romain Mayambi and Leo Thiam

Gallery Fellows:

Aramenta Ashshakir

Mylus Edwards

Molly Gressle

Skylinn Jenkins

Mattie Lou Jones

Nathan Knoll

Julia Lanham

Robin Lively

Precilia Malonda

LaDe Richardson

Ethan Stanley

Nata Thiam

Enchanted Life: Finding Magic in the Everyday

Artist-in-Residence:

Julia O. Bianco

Gallery Fellows:

Macy Belcher

Summer Chandler

Destiny Eglian

Wesley Ericson

Hannah Feibelman

Ainsley Johnstone

Mia Kindred

Robin Lively

Madelyn McArthur

Lavender Balm: Expressions of Queer Resistance

Artist-in-Residence:

Barry Lee

Gallery Fellows: Hannah Feibelman

Kaya Friday

Pierce Gravenstine

MK Hensley

Monte Jones

Robin Lively

Jason Parker

Bryn Studer

Gavin Warner

Sawdust

Artist-inResidence: Jim Tucker

Gallery Fellows: Will Boone

Aspen Dameron

MK Hensley

Henry Hittle

Chay Mills

Julia Patterson

Ellie Rockford

Aminata Thiam

Crafting Conversation: Art as Protest

Artist-in-Residence: Ciara LeRoy

Gallery Fellows:

Nico Breen

Kezia Copeland

Tien Dao

Destiny Eglian

Thaddeus Johnson

Callum Rettig

Nina Seyferth

ArtWorks’ year-long Mural Studio, which started in 2022, has provided dozens of teens and young adults between ages 18 and 24 with consistent employment and hands-on artistic opportunities. This social enterprise model goes deeper than ArtWorks’ seasonal apprentice program and provides a full year of employment in a professional studio work setting.

Studio Artists are employed to fulfill a range of client and community services, including mural design and production. They learn all aspects of a mural project, from client communications and budgeting to design and production. They also design murals and pitch their proposals to various clients including businesses, restaurants, festivals, and nonprofits.

Jay Maupins

Harvest

Hugh Moscoe

Program Mural Studio Year-Round

Amiaya

Naja

Riddle

SimonSanders-Tate

Kennedy

Trinity

Schubert

Stewart

AllisonAlleyne

Boyle Lauryn

Campbell Katelyn

Detwiler

Hannah Feibelman

KelseyStewart

Ellie

Wade

Wallace

Nas Williams

Peyton

ZackHarshfield

SavannaHastings

Innes Lia

KendallMacAskill Matsey

MURAL STUDIO MANAGERS EvanAnissaHildebrandt Pulcheon

In

2024, the studio completed multiple murals, including:

Rolling Hills of Hamilton County

Hamilton County Planning & Development

138 E Court St. Rm. 801, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Designer: Mural Studio Artist Harvest Riddle

Rooted and Growing

Milford First United Methodist Church

541 Main St, Milford

Designer: Betty Hatchet

I Wrap Myself in Starlight and Resiliency Corporex

Ovation, 123 W. Fourth Street, Newport, Kentucky

Designers: Adrienne Dixon (Resiliency), Emily Howard (I Wrap Myself in Starlight)

Gathering at Our Well WorldatWork

Temporary, created at The Duke Energy Convention Center, Downtown

Designer: Mural Studio Manager Anissa Pulcheon

Building Community Pennrose

Thatcher Flats, 933 Lincoln Ave, Walnut Hills

Designers: Mural Studio Artists Simon Schubert, Peyton Harshfield, Amiaya Alleyne

Freestore Foodbank

Freestore Foodbank 3401 Rosenthal Way, (rooftop), Over-the-Rhine

You’ve Never Seen Cincinnati Like This

AppleTV and Civitas Experiential

TQL Stadium, 1501 Central Parkway (east side of building), West End

Designer: Civitas Experiential

Momentum!

Lydia’s House 2020 - 2028 Mills Ave., Norwood

Designer: Mural Studio Artist Ellie Wallace

ArtWorks Introduces CAMERA STUDIO

In 2024, ArtWorks expanded its year-round employment with the launch of its new Camera Studio, offering professional photography, videography and public art mixed medias services to the Greater Cincinnati region. This studio marks a bold step in the nonprofit’s mission to empower the next generation of the creative sector while meeting the evolving needs of local community partners.

The studio employed five young adults, ages 18–24, in paid, year-long roles and one professional Studio Manager. These emerging artists receive mentorship, hands-on training, and real-world client experience in photography and video production. Beyond technical skills, the program emphasizes communication, project management, budgeting, and creative collaboration, equipping participants for long-term career success.

Services offered include event and portrait photography, videography, product shoots, and content creation for social media. Styling and design services are also available.

2024 project highlights include:

Junebug Jewelry

Services: Short-form Video, Product Photography, Prop Styling, Talent Casting

Can’t Stop Being Fashionable

Services: Creative Direction, Wardrobe Styling, Editorial Photography

Game On–MEAS Active sportswear, Nettie pickleball products

Services: Product Photography, Action Video, Creative Direction, Talent Casting

Wait For It– Paige

Services: Music Video Production & Art Direction, Audio Synch, Set Design, Location Scouting

Call the Doctor –ArtWorks

Services: Product Photography, Prop Styling, Creative Direction

Faces In Focus–ArtWorks

Services: Headshot Photography

Fotofocus Mural, Fotofocus & Easterseals

Services: Mural Design & Photography

2024

CAMERA STUDIO MANAGER

PROGRAM & COMMUNITY PARTNERS

1N5

Apple TV

Art Park Mural

ArtsVote Ohio

ArtsWave

Cincinnati Art Museum

Cincinnati History Library and Archives.

Cincinnati Open

Cincinnati Public Schools

Cincinnati Recreation Commission

Cincinnati Regional Chamber

City of Cincinnati

Civic Garden Center

Civitas

Clifton Cultural Arts Center

Columbus College of Art & Design

Contemporary Arts Center

Corporex

CreativeOhio

Creative Time

CRC

DIY Printing

Easterseals Redwood

Esoteric Brewing Co.

FC Cincinnati

Fotofocus

Hines Mural

Hotel Covington

La Soupe LifeCenter

Lydia’s House

Milford United Methodist Church

Model Group

Ohio Arts Council

PAR Projects

Pennrose P&G

Pones

Queen City Book Bank

Shake It Records

Talbert House

Tender Mercies

The Annex

The Art Academy of Cincinnati

The Greater Columbus Arts Council

The Jewish Federation of Cincinnati

The Johnson Foundation

The Well

Walnut Hills Area Council

Walnut Hills Historical Society

Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation

Wave Pool

Youth at the Center

Freestore Foodbank

Get Out the Vote

Greater Columbus Arts Council

Hamilton County

HER Cincinnati & Scholar House

2024FINANCE

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Investments Receivables

Prepaid Expense

Property and Equipment Net

Operating Lease Right-of-Use Asset

Investment in LLC*

Total Assets

*Investment in Creative Campus Building and ArtPark

Liabilities

Accounts Payable Accrued Expenses

Notes Payable Operating Lease Liability

$1,656,073

$1,276,165

$1,336,635

$3,598

$1,457,686

$626,179

$2,569,929

$8,926,265

$30,031

$49,982

$1,295,764

$630,779

$2,006,556

$5,392,698

$1,527,011

Total Net Assets & Liabilities: $8,926,265

THANK YOU TO OUR 2024 SUPPORTERS

1919 Investment Council

84.51

Christine Adams

Rosanne Ammirati & Kevin Krulewitch

Daniel Anastasi

William P. Anderson Foundation

Anonymous Donor

Carole Anthony

James Anthony & Sarah Corathers ArtsWave

Bailey Lamson Family Foundation

Bank of America Charitable Foundation

Gordon Barnhart

Ron Bates & Randy Lasley

Donald Beck & Lawrence Eynon M.D.

Dana Beitner-Johnson

Steven & Carolyn Bloomfield

Sandra Bolek

William & Mary Bonansinga

Joyce Borkin

Marjorie & Justin Bowersock

Bricker Graydon

Jim & Cindy Briggs

Wini Bruening

Jaqui Brumm

Jacklyn & Gary Bryson

Jon Calderas & Corinne Lehmann C-Forward

City of Cincinnati

Julie & John Cohen

Janet Collins

William & Paula Cordes

LaVaughn Cottell

Justin & Kelly Croop

William & Patricia Culp

Rocco D’Ascenzo

Charles H. Dater Foundation

Mark Dauner & Geraldine Wu

April & Harry Davidow

Marjorie Davis

Amy & Andrew DeWitt

Cecilia & Kenneth Dorger

David & Emilie Dressler

Duke Energy Convention Center

Duke Energy Foundation

Graham Edwin & Sharon Janosik

Mitchell Foundation

The Episcopal Society of Christ Church

Ernst & Young

Dennis Finney & Laurel Frank

Lisa & David Fitzgibbon

Ivo Floccia

Bill & Joy Fotsch

Monica & Ronald Gardner

John Gavozzi

Agnes Godwin Hall & Darin Hall

Clifford Goosmann & Andrea Wilson

Michelle Goret

Graham Edwin & Sharon Janosik

Mitchell Foundation

Greater Cincinnati Foundation

David & Rennie Greenfield

William Griesser

Linda & Paul Groen

Hamilton County

Hollie Hannan

Richard D. Hannan Family Foundation

Steven & Eleanor Haussler

Lucy Haverland-Joffe & Craig Joffe

Louise Head

Jeffrey Herbert

Catherine & William Herring

Brian & Grace Hill

Don & Pat Hinkley

Kim & Michael Hoeting

Jennifer Hogeback

Ron & David Houck-Nebel

Joann Hubert

Carol Huether

Human Rights Campaign of Greater Cincinnati

Laura & Anthony Humphrey

Anne & Thaddeus Jaroszewicz

Stephen & Sandra Joffe

Randy & Janice Johnson

Sarah Raup Johnson

The Johnson Foundation

Johnson & Johnson

Marcia Kaplan & Michael Privitera

Jane Keller

Kenton County Airport Board

Kohnen Family Foundation

Martin & Victoria Koppenhafer

Cheryl & John Korn

Kim & Carolyn Krause

Carol Kruse

Elisabeth & Mark Kuhlman

John & Susie Lame

Julie & Eric Lanter

James & George-Ann Lawrence

Phillip & Whitney Long

Edward Lorenz

Doug & Amy Magenheim

Charles & Laurie Maguire

James Mahon

Kathleen & Dr. Joseph Martin

Jennifer & Rusty McNair

Merus Foundation

Leslie & John Meyer

Midwest Grip & Lighting

Scott Miller & Lori Murphy

David & Diane Moccia

Barbara & Scott Muhlhauser

Graeme Murray

Karen Nance

Jim & Jane Neyer

Molly North & Ben Dean

Ohio Arts Council

Ohio History Connection

Oliver Family Foundation

Rose Palmieri

Francesca & Michael Peace

Susan & Joseph Pichler

Christine Piepmeier

Susan & Phil Price

Procter & Gamble

Leigh Prop

PwC Charitable Foundation

Amanda Rassi

Fiona & Martin Riant

Helen & Stephen Rindsberg

Catherine & Harold Roberts

Dianne & J. David Rosenberg

Jens G. Rosenkrantz, Jr. & M.

Katherine Hurley

Marianne R. Rowe

Carla & Michael Rusconi

Martine & Jack Ryan

S&P Global

Lisa & Leonard Saia

Thomas R. Schiff Foundation

Dan & Jayna Schimberg

Janet Schlegel

Marjorie & Alan Schneider

Stephen Schwartz & Felice

Marcus

Tony & Karen Schweier

Scripps Howard Foundation

Sedlack Bischoff Family Fund

Rebecca Seeman & David Wood

Ann Segal & Jerry Malsh

Judith Serling-Sturm

Barbara Sferra & Herbert

Robinson

Grace Sferra

Lauren & Tom Shafer

Bryan Shick

SHP

V Clark Sole

Henry & Sandra Spitz

Mary Stein

Summerfair Cincinnati

Sutphin Family Foundation

Tod Swormstedt

Abbot & Josie Thayer

Kathleen & Joseph Tomain

U.S. Bank Foundation

Kelly & Guy Vanasse

Sara & Michelle Vance Waddell

Vista Foundation

Katie Waterson

Debbie & Richard Westheimer

Mark & Susan Whitman

Nicholas & Gloriette Winnike

Amy & Michael Wolfram

Wohlgemuth Herschede Foundation

Woman’s Art Club

Allen & Kyla Woods

Gordon & Susan Wright

Wrocklage Family Charitable

Kenneth & Christine

Wurtenberger

In-Kind Donors

21c Museum Hotel

American Scaffolding

American Sign Museum

Baker’s Table

Boca Restaurant Group

Cedric Cox

Chavez Properties

Michael DiMaggio & Ellen Forte

Diversipak

HER Cincinnati

Hotel Covington

New Riff Distilling

Otto’s on Main

Emily Wolff Art Studio

(as of May 15, 2025)

ArtWorks MOVES INTO THE Creative Campus

In November 2024, ArtWorks staff stepped into a new chapter—literally—by moving into our first permanent home at 2429 Gilbert Avenue. After nearly three years of planning, design, fundraising and fullscale renovation, the historic building was transformed into a vibrant hub for creativity, collaboration, and community.

The move marks more than just a change in address. This space represents years of visioning, dreaming, and deep investment in our future and in the city we serve. While final touches were still underway to prepare the building for a public opening in 2025, the ArtWorks team eagerly settled into our new headquarters. Each box unpacked and desk assembled was a moment of gratitude and progress—proof of what’s possible when we build something bold together.

Our new home isn’t just where we work— it’s where we’ll continue to imagine, support, and amplify the power of youth, art, and community for years to come.

Photography by Zak Kauth

MEET OUR TEAM

Staff

Colleen Houston, Chief Executive Officer & Artistic Director

Sydney Fine, Senior Director, Impact

Liz LaCause, Senior Director, Advancement

James Marable, Senior Director, Marketing and Communications

Michael Alessi, Grants Specialist

Zaq Andel, Development Sponsorship Manager

Karla Batres Gilvin, Exhibitions & Gallery

Fellowship Manager

Dutana D, Marketing & Communications Specialist

Adrienne Dixon, Creative Project Manager

Mo Elgazzar, Career Development Specialist

Devin Grimm, Senior Manager, Creative Projects

Evan Hildebrandt, Mural Studio Manager

Esco Jackson, Creative Campus Manager

Cameron Lee, Camera Studio Manager

Josh McGrew, Creative Project Manager

Liz Miller, Director, Creative Projects

Nile Otte, Social Enterprise Manager

Francesca Peace, Manager, Finance

Anissa Pulcheon, Mural Studio Manager

Melissa Rounds, Development Database Coordinator

Greg Sunderhaus, Jr., Director of Talent & Facilities

Grace Thanasiu, Manager, Recruiting & Hiring

Jessica Vasquez, Executive Coordinator

Former 2024 staff

Jill E. Dunne

Kelly Haines

Jane Keller

Joanna Kerman

Dominique Khoury-Sutton

Tamia Stinson

Board of Directors Officers

Laura Humphrey, President

Lisa Beshara Saia, Vice President

Jens Rosenkrantz, Jr., Treasurer

Agnes Godwin Hall, Secretary

Members at Large

Ron Bates | Paula Boggs Muething | Rocco D’Ascenzo

Kelley Brandstetter Tracy | Mary Ellen Reilly

Janel Carroll

Emeritus Former 2024 Board Members

Lauren Hannan Shafer

Michael DiMaggio | Lynne Friedlander | Tyra Patterson

Kathryne Gardette | Barbara Hauser | Emily Palmer Wolff

Mike Hoeting | Pam Kravetz | Joe Muraca

Liam McMillin | Rahiel Michael | Allen Woods

Jorge Perez | Connie Ross | Molly Weissman

Christy Samad | Randy Smith

Ron Houck

John Korn

Margie Schneider

Sara M. Vance Waddell

Gee Horton

Mark Mallory

Ric Booth

At ArtWorks, we believe public art has the power to transform our city and our future. By creating opportunities for artists and communities to come together, we are building a more vibrant, more connected, and truly world-class Cincinnati.

We invite you to join us in this work. Whether you are an emerging or seasoned artist, a community member with a bold idea, an advocate for young adults, or a passionate supporter of the arts, there’s a place for you at ArtWorks. Together, we can grow public art and strengthen the creative heart of our city.

513.333.0388 | info@artworkscincinnati.org | artworkscincinnati.org Facebook: @ArtWorksCincinnati Instagram: @ArtWorksCincy LinkedIn: ArtWorks Connect With Us

Creative Campus Location 2429 Gilbert Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45206

Office Hours

Mondays – Fridays, 9 am – 5 pm

Gallery Hours (During Exhibitions) Wednesday – Friday, Noon – 6 pm