Elm Street Plaza’s New Public Art Installations Commemorate the Cultural Impact and Legacy of King Records

Local Artists, Art Organizations, City Leaders, 3CDC and Community Members Celebrate Four New Sculptures

CINCINNATI (April 29, 2026) – Just months after opening to the public, Elm Street Plaza invites community members and convention center visitors to deepen their engagement with public art through the installation of four new permanent sculptural works. Conceptualized and created by local artistic organizations AGAR and Black Art Speaks (BAS), along with local artists Jason Snell and Luke Lehenbauer, the new artworks further establish the plaza as a cultural destination in the heart of Downtown Cincinnati.

The artists and organizations gathered this morning at Elm Street Plaza with civic leaders – including City Manager Sheryl Long; Patti Collins, President of the Bootsy and Patti Collins Foundation; representatives from the Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC); and community members – to celebrate the newly installed sculptures.

The event took place in front of the First Financial Center, surrounded by both new and existing artwork. Speakers reflected on the role of public art in building and strengthening communities, as well as the enduring influence of Cincinnati’s own King Records on artists and visionaries across generations – the central theme informing all four sculptures.

Well before the creation of Elm Street Plaza, part of the First Financial Center’s $264 million historic reimagining, King Records’ legacy of rhythm, resilience and revolutionary spirit was memorialized at a monumental scale by world-renowned artist Tristan Eaton. Eaton’s 18,000-square-foot mural on the side of the 84.51° headquarters pays homage to the diverse spectrum of music rooted in Cincinnati, featuring larger-than-life legends who influenced genres and generations worldwide. Together, Eaton’s mural and the four new sculptures help transform Elm Street Plaza from a shared gathering space into a distinctive cultural landmark within the urban core.

“Elm Street Plaza represents the kind of civic canvas we love to activate, where art, environment, and community energy come together in a way that feels uniquely Cincinnati,” said Andrew Salzbrun, Managing Partner at AGAR. “Years ago, through our partnership with the Cincinnati Regional Chamber on BLINK, we helped bring the Tristan Eaton mural to life, and seeing it now serve as the artistic backdrop for this new plaza is a full-circle moment for AGAR. The collective works we helped curate and create provide a dynamic sense of place that amplifies the vibrancy of the renovated Fountain District. The creativity and vision that Jason Snell, Luke Lehenbauer, and the AGAR Studio team brought to these installations show that this is more than public art, it is a living landmark that invites people to gather, explore, and take pride in their city.”

AGAR and Black Art Speaks were also part of a larger group of local arts organizations that convened beginning in 2024 to explore the role and expression of public art inside and outside the reimagined convention center. That collaboration resulted in 13 new interior installations, in addition to the four exterior works unveiled today: Coloratura by AGAR Studios; Freeforms by Luke Lehenbauer; True American Music by Jason Snell; and Funk Glasses by Black Art Speaks.

“3CDC and the City of Cincinnati have created a model for integrating public art into civic spaces in ways that are accessible, intentional, and reflective of the community,” Alandes Powell, President & CEO of Black Art Speaks, said. “Black Art Speaks is proud to be part of that vision, ensuring artists and stories rooted in this city are visible at the scale they deserve.”

Elm Street Plaza connects the convention center with the surrounding district in a new and dynamic way, inviting thousands of annual event and conventiongoers to step outside and immediately experience Cincinnati’s vibrancy, community and thriving arts culture.

“This collection of outdoor public artwork pays tribute to Cincinnati’s rich creative arts legacy while underscoring its vibrant future and collaborative spirit,” said Christy Samad, Executive Vice President of Civic & Commercial Space Activation for 3CDC. “We thank the artists and partner organizations whose work invites neighbors and visitors to engage with Elm Street Plaza through innovative, interactive, and accessible art.”

This May, 3CDC will present a free weekly Artist Talk series at Elm Street Plaza, featuring contributing artists who will discuss their artwork, inspirations and creative process in depth. Learn more about the Artist Talk series here: elmstreetplazacincy.com/event/artist-talks

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