These Before and After Photos Show How Murals Have Changed Cincinnati for the Better

by CityBeat Staff February 19, 2019

ArtWorks has been producing public art along the streets and on the sides of Greater Cincinnati buildings for more than a decade. This organization and others have helped bring life to spaces across the city that might ordinarily have been overlooked, turning them into spectacular works of art. These before and after photos illustrate how murals have changed Cincinnati for the better.

Photos by Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Then — 2007 511 Walnut St., Downtown Photo: ©2019 Google Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Now: “Armstrong” 511 Walnut St., Downtown Mural: ArtWorks | Designer: Eduardo Kobra Photo: Hailey Bollinger Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Then — 2011 3512 Vine St., Corryville Photo: ©2019 Google Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Now: “Beguiled by the Wild” 3512 Vine St., Corryville Mural: ArtWorks | Designer: Charley Harper Photo: Hailey Bollinger Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Then — 2011 23 W. Court St., Downtown Photo: ©2019 Google Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Now: “Cincinnati Toy Heritage” 23 W. Court St., Downtown Mural: ArtWorks | Designer: Jonathan Queen Photo: Hailey Bollinger Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Then — 2011 1107 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine Photo: ©2019 Google Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Now: “Crazy Cat, Crazy Quilt” 1107 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine Mural: ArtWorks | Designer: Edie Harper Photo: Hailey Bollinger Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Then — 2009 1437 Main St., Over-the-Rhine Photo: ©2019 Google Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Now: “Mr. Dynamite” 1437 Main St., Over-the-Rhine Mural: ArtWorks | Designer: Jenny Ustick Photo: Hailey Bollinger Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Then — 2011 1200 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine Photo: ©2019 Google Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Now: “Democracy!” 1200 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine Mural: ArtWorks | Designer: Ralph Steadman Photo: Hailey Bollinger Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Then — 2011 16 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine Photo: ©2019 Google Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Now: “Energy and Grace” 16 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine Mural: ArtWorks | Designer: Kim Krause Photo: Paige Deglow Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Then — 2012 1225 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine Photo: ©2019 Google Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Now: “Faces of Homelessness” 1225 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine Mural: We Are Cincinnati | Designer: ICY + SOT Photo: Paige Deglow Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Then — 2011 910 Race St., Downtown Photo: ©2019 Google Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Now: “Cincinnati Paints by Numbers: Fiona and Bibi at the Cincinnati Zoo” 910 Race St., Downtown Mural: ArtWorks | Designer: Lucie RIce Photo: Hailey Bollinger Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Then — 2011 1014 Vine St., Downtown Photo: ©2019 Google Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Now: “Fresh Harvest” 1014 Vine St., Downtown Mural: ArtWorks | Designer: Jonathan Queen Photo: Paige Deglow Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Then — 2009 28 W. 13th St., Over-the-Rhine Photo: ©2019 Google Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Now: “Golden Muse” 28 W. 13th St., Over-the-Rhine Mural: ArtWorks | Project Manager: Tim Parsley Photo: Emerson Swoger Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Then — 2011 119 E. Court St., Downtown Photo: ©2019 Google Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Now: “Homecoming (Blue Birds)” 119 E. Court St., Downtown Mural: ArtWorks | Designer: Charley Harper Photo: Paige Deglow Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Then — 2014 917 Main St., Downtown Photo: ©2019 Google Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Now: “Little Nemo in Slumberland” 917 Main St., Downtown Mural: ArtWorks | Designer: Winsor McCay Photo: Hailey Bollinger Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Then — 2011 713 Vine St., Downtown Photo: ©2019 Google Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Now: “Cincinnati’s Table” 713 Vine St., Downtown Mural: ArtWorks | Project Manager: Scott Donaldson Photo: Paige Deglow Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Then — 2009 402 Scott St., Covington, Ky. Photo: ©2019 Google Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Now: London Police Mural 402 Scott St., Covington, Ky. Mural: The London Police Photo: Hailey Bollinger Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Then — 2011 15 E. Eighth St., Downtown Photo: ©2019 Google Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Now: “Martha the Last Passenger Pigeon” 15 E. Eighth St., Downtown Mural: ArtWorks | Designer: John A. Ruthvan Photo: Paige Deglow Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Then — 2011 Plough Alley, Over-the-Rhine Photo: ©2019 Google Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Now: New Lines Plough Alley, Over-the-Rhine Mural: ArtWorks | Designer: Courttney Cooper Photo: Hailey Bollinger Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Then — 2007 Goetz Alley at Orchard Street, Over-the-Rhine Photo: ©2019 Google Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Now: New Lines Goetz Alley at Orchard Street, Over-the-Rhine Mural: ArtWorks | Designer: Lizzy Duquette Photo: Hailey Bollinger Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Then — 2011 27 W. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine Photo: ©2019 Google Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Now: “No Place Like Home” 27 W. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine Mural: ArtWorks | Designer: Kenton Brett Photo: Emerson Swoger Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Then — 2011 1321 Pendleton St., Pendleton Photo: ©2019 Google Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Now: “Pendleton Mapped” 1321 Pendleton St., Pendleton Mural: ArtWorks | Designer: Barbara & David Day Photo: Emerson Swoger Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Then — 2012 525 Elm St., Downtown Photo: ©2019 Google Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Now: “The Hands That Built Our City” 525 Elm St., Downtown Mural: ArtWorks | Designer: Jenny Ustick Photo: Emerson Swoger Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Then — 2011 811 Main St., Downtown Photo: ©2019 Google Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Now: “Tom Wesselmann Still Life #60” 811 Main St., Downtown Mural: ArtWorks | Designer: Tom Wesselmann Photo: Google Maps Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Then — 2011 1026 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills Photo: ©2019 Google Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Now: We Are Cincinnati 1026 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills Mural: We Are Cincinnati | Designer: Benjamin Thomas Photo: Hailey Bollinger Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Then — 2007 3564 Montgomery Road, Evanston Photo: ©2019 Google Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

Now: “What’s Happening Downtown” 1005 Walnut St., Downtown Mural: ArtWorks | Project Manager: Ted Hendricks Photo: Paige Deglow Hailey Bollinger, Paige Deglow, Emerson Swoger and ©2018 Google

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