Murals Across Ohio

Bys: Adams, Ian, Schieber, Randall Lee, Nigro, Justin Anthony

Featuring spectacular photographs and informative text, Murals Across Ohio collects and presents some of the state's most dynamic and accessible art. Produced in conjunction with America 250-Ohio and the Ohio Arts Council's statewide documentation initiative, the book presents a minimum of two murals from each of Ohio's eighty-eight counties. The result is both a visual record and a cultural portrait of Ohio communities, highlighting the ways murals reflect local histories, identities, landscapes, and shared values.

Combining photography, historical context, and interpretive essays, the book moves beyond the traditional art catalog to explore the development of mural making in Ohio and the role public art plays in shaping community spaces. An introductory section traces the history of murals in the state, from ancient Indigenous petroglyphs to contemporary mural practices, including the collaborative processes through which murals are conceived, funded, and created. At the heart of the volume is a thematic presentation of murals organized around such subjects as local history and patriotism, identity and community, homage and remembrance, nature and the built environment, and abstract and surreal expression.

The photographs are accompanied by narrative text that situates each mural within its cultural and geographic context. Some entries explore the symbolism, historical references, and visual language of the imagery, while others tell stories about the artists, organizations, and communities that brought the murals to life. Together, these accounts reveal murals as both artistic achievements and expressions of place, memory, and civic engagement.

Although murals are among the most visible forms of public art, they are also among the most vulnerable. Exposure to weather, changing urban landscapes, and the passage of time mean that many murals eventually fade, deteriorate, or disappear. Murals Across Ohio preserves a record of these works and their significance, ensuring that their artistic and cultural contributions remain accessible to future audiences.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0821427563
• ISBN13: 9780821427569
• Release Date: May 2027
• Publisher: Ohio University Press
• Length: 352 Pages