Adding sixteen new murals to Downtown Cincinnati, BLINK, the nation’s largest light and art festival, took place last month for the first time since 2019. The cleverly captivating artwork featured above was painted by Atlanta-based Greg Mike. Several more murals — all captured by by travel and street photographer Karin du Maire aka Street Art Nomad — follow:
Chicago-based Max Sansing portrays two figures “in meditation with their thoughts while looking up to the sky symbolizing the future and limitless possibilities.”
Valencia-born duo PichiAvo at work
PichiAvo, completed mural — inspired by the marble sculpture Laocoön and His Sons
Amsterdam-based Mr. June presents “an alternative experience of the environment, which has been optically manipulated by form, colors and perspectives.”
Athens native Insane 51 portrays Euthenia, the ancient Greek female spirit of prosperity
Denver-based duo Lindz and Lamb at work on “Who Dey!” referencing the chant that breaks out after the Bengals score touchdowns at Cincinnati’s Paul Brown Stadium
Photos by Karin du Maire aka Street Art Nomad
The first BLKOUT Walls Mural Festival, an all Black-produced event, took place from July 24th through the 31st in Detroit, Michigan. It was founded by Sydney G. James of Detroit, Thomas “Detour” Evans of Denver and Max Sansing of Chicago in response to their past experiences of participating in mural festivals where there had been a lack of racial diversity among the participating artists and too many expenses incurred by the artists themselves.
Each of the artists participating in the inaugural BLKOUT Walls Mural Festival was provided with a fee for painting, as well as free lodging, meals and transportation. In addition to live mural painting, the inaugural festival hosted artist talks, panel discussions and pop-up exhibitions.
The image featured above was fashioned by Detroit-bred and based visual artist Sydney G. James. Several more murals that surfaced last month at the BLKOUT Walls Mural Festival — all captured by travel and street photographer Karin du Maire aka Street Art Nomad — follow:
Nepali artist Sneha Shrestha aka IMAGINE
Chicago-based Max Sansing and Roxbury, Boston native Rob Gibbs aka Problak
West Coast born and bred Jamaican-American artist “JUST” Giovannie
Bay Area based artist and singer Zoë Boston
Mexican artist Victor “MARKA27” Quinonez at work
West Coast-based, self-taught artist Rachel Wolfe-Goldsmith aka Wolfe Pack
Photos: Karin du Maire aka Street Art Nomad
A predominantly Mexican neighborhood in Chicago’s West Side, Pilsen hosts an incredible range of public artworks. Following the train tracks along 16th Street, we came upon Mexican-themed murals alongside dozens of pieces by graffiti writers and street artists. Here are a few more images from this outdoor gallery, an initiative of the Chicago Urban Art Society:
Chicago native Max Sansing
Belgian artist Roa
The late Brooks Golden
Chicago-based JC Rivera
Chicago-based Joseph “Sentrock” Perez
Chicago-based Ruben Aguirre with neighborhood artist Miguel A. Del Real
Chicago native Rodrigo Mireles aka RM Solo
Chicago-based Rahmaan Statik
Note: The first image features Montreal-based En Masse.
Photos: 1-3; 5-9 Sara C Mozeson; 4 Lois Stavsky
