New Mural by Internationally Renowned Artist Unveiled in Walnut Hills

A new mural that marks the first collaboration between two artistic powerhouses in Cincinnati now decorates part of Walnut Hills.

The mural, constellation (rumi maki), from internationally renowned Peruvian artist william córdova, can be found on the façade of Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s Scene Shop at 2827 Gilbert Ave.

“ArtWorks is honored to welcome william córdova to Cincinnati’s growing public art landscape,” Colleen Houston, CEO and artistic director of ArtWorks, said in a press release. “His iconic artwork bridges memory, place and identity in powerful ways and this mural, his first in the world, will serve as an important cultural landmark for Walnut Hills and the City of Cincinnati.”

constellation (rumi maki) marks a first-time partnership between ArtWorks and Playhouse in the Park and showcases a shared commitment to creativity, equity and community impact, the organizations say. The organizations also partnered with Sikkema Malloy Jenkins, the New York-based gallery representing córdova.

“Through this partnership and this vibrant new mural, we are able to enrich our Walnut Hills neighborhood and enliven the experience of our employees working at our site,” Abby Marcus, managing director at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.

The mural was designed by córdova and brought to life with the help of 23 local artists employed by ArtWorks, including 19 youth apprentices. constellation (rumi maki) features themes of Afro-Andean cosmology, as well as spiritual resilience and cultural memory.

“Cosmological architecture and the synthesis of Andean, Afro and Native American geometry are at the heart of constellation (rumi maki),” said córdova. “This effort, like all my work, is an extension of plurality, commonality, landscape and geography — with a spiritual and ritual agenda.”

A dedication event featuring remarks from córdova, project partners and Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval is planned for Monday, Aug. 25 from 3-4:30 p.m. Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park will also offer behind-the-scenes tours of its Scene Shop at 4 p.m. that day.