A new mural celebrating Covington’s history and future will be officially unveiled next week.
The mural, Pineapple on Pizza, was created by Kentucky-based artist collective Often Seen Rarely Spoken (OSRS) as part of the “Spray it Forward” campaign, a national initiative from paint and stain brand Rust-Oleum that set out to create up to 10 murals across the country in 2025. You can find the mural on the building of the Covington pizzeria, The Gruff.
Local arts organization ArtsWave says the mural also represents its growing commitment to “creative placemaking,” or fostering neighborhood identity and connection through public art in Northern Kentucky.
“Public art helps people see their neighborhoods in new ways,” Rachael Parker, director of Northern Kentucky Creative Placemaking for ArtsWave, said in a press release. “As we look for ways to warm up at this time of year, celebrating shared arts experiences encourages people to come together. Projects like this offer a meaningful reminder that the arts help connect communities across the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region.”
The collective said in the release that they created the mural in its bold, geometric style, with symbols that represent both Covington’s past and creative momentum. A crushed can symbolizes an often-overlooked object that mirrors the city’s reinvention. Lemon slices represent freshness and renewed energy, while a freight train depicts the city’s railroad heritage, as well as serves as a nod to the artists’ roots in freight train graffiti. The mural also incorporates The Gruff, with a playful pizza slice and a herd of goats as a reimagination of the restaurant’s logo. On the far edge of the mural, you’ll see an hourglass, evoking time, change and the city’s evolving future.
“Covington is a city with a strong past and an even stronger future. We wanted this wall to hold both ideas at once,” the OSRS team said in the release. “Our goal was to celebrate the small surprises, the history and the people who make this place what it is.”
Rust-Oleum provided all the paint for the project, which centered on the brand’s RUST-O spray paint, a line designed for artists and bold mural creation.
“We created RUST-O to empower artists to dream big so they can bring stories to life with confidence,” said Megan Newton, director of spray paint products at Rust-Oleum. “Spray It Forward is about partnering with nonprofits like ArtsWave and teams like OSRS to transform everyday walls into vibrant expressions of place and identity.”
A public celebration of Pineapple on Pizza will be held at The Gruff on Jan. 28 at 10 a.m. OSRS artists and representatives from The Gruff, ArtsWave and Rust-Oleum will be present, and there will be hot chocolate and — depending on their availability — goats.
Spray it Forward murals have also been created in Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina and Wisconsin.
The Gruff, 129 E. Second St., Covington. More info on Spray it Forward: rustoleum.com.