These 21 murals bring new life to the streets of Hamilton, Ohio!
The StreetSpark program was founded in partnership with the Fitton Center for Creative Arts, the City of Hamilton, and the Hamilton Community Foundation. This public art program aims to help enhance the arts identity of Hamilton as well as create more opportunities for local artists. StreetSpark has completed a few murals every summer since 2015. Learn more about all 21 murals below!
1. Make Way for McCloskey
Location: Hamilton Mill | 20 High Street
Designer: Stephen Smith
Make Way for McCloskey pays homage to local writer and illustrator, Robert McCloskey. This composition incorporates images (left to right) from his books Blueberries for Sal, Make Way for Ducklings and Homer Price. This mural was the first of the StreetSpark program, completed in summer 2016.
2. Alexander
Location: Armstead Park | Main and D Streets
Designer: Nicole Trimble
This design consists of a stylized image of Alexander Hamilton, based on John Trumbull’s iconic 1806 portrait.The abstract and graphic qualities of the mural provide a compelling contrast to the surrounding area, juxtaposing contemporary art with the historic buildings of the neighborhood and furthering the focus on the arts in Hamilton’s Main Street area. This mural was completed in summer 2016.
3. Taking Flight
Location: Rotary Park | High and Second Streets
Designer: Taylor Welch
This design is titled "Taking Flight" and symbolizes a city reaching new heights. The sparrow is represented in three stages as it takes flight and has been abstracted and stylized to resemble an origami bird. This mural was completed in summer 2017.
4. The Delicate Balance of Progress
Location: Unsung Salvage Design Company | 212 Main Street
Designer: Annie Hamel
This design is intended to evoke the notions of serenity, fragility and peace. The delicacy of the origami foldings and the beauty of this ancestral manual activity reminds us of the careful work of the craftsmen who currently occupy the building. This mural was completed in summer 2017.
5. Left Hander for Life
Location: Clarks Sporting Goods | 15 South B Street
Designer: Paul Loehle
This mural design depicts legendary Hamilton native Joe Nuxhall, both as a young Cincinnati Reds pitcher in the prime of his career, and later in life as a philanthropist and popular local figure. His pitching hand is extended as if into the space of the viewer, showcasing a pitcher's grip and displaying his signature. This mural was completed in summer 2017.
6. Golden Ethos
Location: N134 North Second Street
Designer: Christian Dallas
This mural amplifies the musical mood of the area and creates a visual marker of what this specific part of Hamilton is all about. This mural was completed in the summer of 2018.
7. Paint the Town Red
Location: Miami Hamilton Campus | 1601 University Boulevard
Designer: Stephen Smith
This design is a whimsical take on the skyline of Downtown Hamilton. It features many major buildings such as the historic Butler County Courthouse, the Municipal Building and the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in 'Miami Red.' It also features the Great Miami River with the train bridge and the Main/High Street bridge. This mural was completed in summer 2018.
8. Hey Caddy-O
Location: Jeff Pohlman Tire & Auto Repair | 736 High Street
Designer: Nicole Trimble
This mural features a classic mint green Cadillac Coupe de Ville, parked on a highway trailing off into the sunset. This iconic mid-50’s car draws attention to the current use of the building as well as the automotive manufacturing history of Hamilton, in particular Fisher Body, which produced bodies for Cadillac from 1947 through 1988. This mural was completed in summer 2018.
9. Incrementum
Location: First Financial-Max Stacy Flowers Building | 350 High Street
Designer: Paul Loehle
This mural depicts Hebe, the Greek goddess of Spring, as a central figure that pays tribute to the statue that will adorn the landscape in front of the mural. Flanking the statue are peace lilies, which connect with the doves on both the left and right side as a repeated symbol of peace. The curved archways surrounding Hebe deepen the connection to classical Greek art, and the right arch is engraved with the word Incrementum, which is Latin for growth. This mural was completed summer 2019.
10. The Flowing Pride of Lindenwald
Location: Minnick’s Drive Thru | 2537 Pleasant Avenue
Designer: Dave Rickerd
Lindenwald is a place rooted in rich history and community pride. This mural showcases the places and landmarks that helped make Lindenwald an integral Hamilton neighborhood. This mural was completed in summer 2019.
11. Inspiring the Future
Location: Booker T. Washington Community Center | 1140 S. Front Street
Designer: Jamie Schorsch
This mural was in part inspired by the Harlem Renaissance works of artist, illustrator, and art educator Aaron Douglas. The emphasis of the BTW Center as a means for providing a nurturing environment and enrichment for youth and teens through various programs serves as the primary inspiration for the imagery in this design. This mural was completed in summer 2019.
12. Ro-Bros
Location: 802 Heaton Street
Designer: Logan Walden
This mural depicts two larger-than-life robot brothers amidst a vibrant stylized sky. The windows of this building function as the characters' eyes and even light up at night! The North End neighborhood has a strong industrial history and is located in a residential area where all ages are present, so the design pays tribute to the past while offering an image that is contemporary and fun for all ages. This mural was completed in summer 2020.
13. Garden Parade
Location: Jefferson Park | Corner of East and Henley Avenues
Designer: Lizzy DuQuette
In this joyful mural design, we see a group of children parading between giant sunflowers and whimsical garden creatures. The children climb and play with the oversized flowers, mirroring activities at the nearby playset. Inspired by the mission of the Boys and Girls Club and the surrounding Jefferson community, this mural seeks to help children feel welcomed and instill a sense of belonging. This mural was completed in summer 2020.
14. Garden of The Dogs
Location: ELITE Performance & Wellness | 190 N. Brookwood Avenue
Designer: Christian Dallas
This mural gives viewers a layered composition filled with meaning and connections to the specific location, region, and state it resides in. This mural depicts a dynamic garden of native flora and fauna, such as the trillium flower, buckeye tree and ladybugs. Another layer of this complex design includes hidden bulldog images as a nod to nearby Hamilton High School. This mural was completed in fall 2020.
15. Charge the Line
Location: 204 North Third Street
Designer: Jennifer Eickelberger
This design honors the Hamilton Fire Department, their bravery and their sacrifice. The firefighter is wearing the mask they would wear when entering a fire. There is smoke behind him but because of their hard work, the city is safely intact in the shield and skyline. There are 13 stars to represent the 13 firefighters that have lost their lives in the line of duty on the HFD. There are two dates on the mural, 1827 signifies when the department was formed and 1917 to honor when the local fire union formed. This mural was completed in summer 2021.
16. Cultivating Community
Location: Telhio Credit Union | 601 Park Avenue
Designer: Jamie Schorsch
The concept of this design was inspired by Telhio's ideals of caring, commitment and integrity. Compositional elements used in the design are inspired by Art Deco rendering traditions that were prevalent in the artwork of 1930’s, when the Credit Union was founded, as well as the architecture throughout the City of Hamilton. The hands also represent the way Telhio redistributes income back to its members and the community, with water flowing to signify growth and prosperity. This mural was completed in summer 2021.
17. Natural History
Location: Hamilton Power Plant retaining wall | 960 N. Third Street
Designer: Lyric Morris-Latchaw
This design concept was inspired by the surrounding industrial elements. In particular, the tubes and pipes of the nearby Hamilton Power Plant. The mural design includes a series of bright, criss-crossing pipes with flowers growing out of them. Natural beauty often finds a way to flourish in the spaces we least expect, whether that be a crack in the sidewalk, a busy highway median, or even the ground of a power plant. This mural was completed in summer 2022.
18. Bartels' Butterflies
Location: Bartels Heating and Cooling | 929 Main Street
Designer: Madeline Tipton, The Tipton Creative LLC
This metamorphosis mural honors the past and looks forward to the future. The migrating creatures, monarch butterflies, are a symbol of hope and transformation. The reds and blues in the color palette are a nod to Bartel’s Heating and Cooling. The Hamilton community will also be looking towards the future as the city is growing and transforming through art, as represented by the hands creating paper airplanes together, and welcoming new members migrating to be part of it. This mural was completed in the summer of 2023.
19. Stream of Consciousness
Location: Hamilton Lane Library | 300 N. Third Street
Designer: Anissa Pulcheon
This design shows the Great Miami River illustrated as a young girl with flowing water as hair and a large book open in her hands. German floral folk-art motifs embroidered on her shirt to celebrate the region’s German history. Emanating out of the book are cloud-like vignettes that show various STEM concepts and careers like circuitry, entomology, botany, math, astronauts (Ohio has produced so many!) and engineering. A striking central focal point immediately draws people in, and they can find new details to enjoy each time they visit the library. This mural was completed in summer 2023.
20. Tourism Series: Hamilton
Location: Along the Great Miami River and recreational trail near Riversedge
Designer: Often Seen Rarely Spoken (OSRS)
This design features large contemporary typography meant to be seen all the way across the river. The color scheme is descriptive to the rich earth tones common in the area. The goal of this mural is to connect the past to the present and create a culturally rich artistic backdrop for future Hamilton generations to be inspired and feel connected to. This mural was completed in the summer of 2024.
21. Viva el Sueño (Live the Dream)
Location: Hamilton Living Water Ministry | 510 S. 8th Street
Designer: Anna Ganina
Viva el Sueño (Live the Dream) is a vibrant celebration of the Hispanic heritage and boundless potential of the Jefferson neighborhood community. The face of a young girl, symbolizing the soul and future of the community, her expressions filled with hope and determination. Many of the symbols included on the mural represent growth, resilience, and freedom to dream, connecting to the region’s overall message. The image of the young girl will speak to the kids who walk through the doors of the organization, reminding them that they are the future; empowered, encouraged, and supported to embrace their dreams and pursue limitless opportunities. This mural was completed in the summer of 2025.
Murals in Hamilton go beyond building walls. Utility boxes and city buses have also been transformed into mobile works of art throughout the city.
Learn more about StreetSpark & download the Mural Map here!
