Where Past Meets Present: Reimagined Convention Center Showcases a Bold Fusion of Previously Existing and New Art

3CDC, City Partner with Local Arts Organizations to Create a Unified, Inspiring Collection

CINCINNATI (December 22, 2025) – Around the time local leaders were preparing to break ground on the transformational $264 million renovation of the Cincinnati Convention Center, Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC), serving as Development Manager for the project, and the City of Cincinnati jointly convened with a number of local arts organizations – including ArtWorks, Black Art Speaks (BAS), the Art Academy of Cincinnati (AAC), and AGAR – to discuss an overarching theme for new artwork at the reimagined space. The groups realized that the reimagined center should serve not only as a modernized civic destination, but as a cultural gateway that reflects the voices, histories, and artistic leadership of Cincinnati itself. Ultimately, a request for proposals (RFP) was issued to determine the theme for this work.

After a series of stakeholder engagements, ArtWorks’ proposed theme of “Convergence: Pieces Creating a Whole” was selected as the guiding creative direction for the new artwork. All parties agreed that this theme perfectly captured the essence of the convention center itself, celebrating the dynamic process of bringing diverse elements together to form a unified and impactful whole — a space designed to connect people, ideas, and experiences. This concept spoke to the intersection of identities, stories, and perspectives, forming a larger, interconnected narrative and symbolized the seamless integration of existing art with new pieces — a true convergence of old and new. With the modernized convention center set to reopen its doors in early January, the execution of this approach will be on full display.

“This is an exciting step as we anticipate the opening of the new, reimagined Convention Center,” Cincinnati City Manager Sheryl Long said. “Each piece of art is a part of the building’s soul, and a signal to the world of what Cincinnati is all about. I’m especially proud to reinstall several pieces that were present in the Convention Center before the renovation—they create a bridge from the old to the new, reminding us that Cincinnati is always moving forward.”

Once the guiding theme for the artwork was in place, the City of Cincinnati and 3CDC partnered with the aforementioned local arts organizations — ArtWorks, BAS, the AAC, and AGAR — to lead the creation of new artwork for the convention center. Each organization selected artists who could bring this vision to life, ensuring the installations would seamlessly integrate with the architecture and existing pieces while reflecting Cincinnati’s rich cultural landscape. ArtWorks supported the overall process by coordinating unified signage throughout the facility.

“It was important to ArtWorks that we created new work that would live successfully in the renovated convention center while also ensuring that anything newly created would be complementary to the existing artworks,” said Liz Miller, Director of Creative Projects for ArtWorks. “We chose a group of local, contemporary artists working in specialized materials and processes and prioritized collaborations with a diverse range of artists so that the installations would be as unique and fresh as the architecture and thoughtfully designed spaces within the Center.”

In total, the reimagined Convention Center retains six installations, while nine artworks were rehomed with local cultural and civic organizations. The renovated space now features 13 new interior installations and four exterior works, spanning materials that include stainless steel, wood, paint, glass, and digital media. Artists represented include contributors from each of the participating arts organizations, and independent collaborators across the region.

“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.”

The collection of new works inside the building includes: Children Building the City (BAS), Antevin Brown (Conceptual Designer); Currents in Motion (ArtWorks), Adrienne Gaither; Drawing Us Together (AAC), Jenny Roesel Ustick; Highlights from the Art Academy of Cincinnati (AAC); Resonance (BAS), Sheridan Davenport and Jordan Harris; Rosette Colored Glasses (ArtWorks), Terence Hammonds; Sisters (AAC), Sarah Stolar; Skybundle: A Codex Transmitter (ArtWorks), Rebecca Nava Soto; Sweet Sounds of the Nati (BAS), Adoria Maxberry (Conceptual Designer); Tandem Threads (AAC), Katie Brenner Wolf; The Oak Lightning Revival (AAC), Scottie Bellissemo; The Weight of Fruit (AAC), Erika NJ Allen; and Windbourne (ArtWorks), Emily Moores.

These works are thoughtfully placed throughout the building, enhancing the visitor experience at every level of the modernized space.

“Art Academy of Cincinnati has always believed that creativity thrives when it is deeply embedded in the life of the city,” Joe Girandola, President & CEO of the Art Academy of Cincinnati. “Our commitment to creative community engagement is about more than art — it’s about connection, access, and shared civic pride. As Cincinnati invests in transformative projects like the Convention Center renovation, AAC is proud to contribute the creative energy, student, faculty, alumni voices, and artistic leadership that help ensure these developments reflect the spirit, history, and future of our city.”

Outdoor installations at the newly opened Elm Street Plaza were developed in collaboration with AGAR, whose experiential design practice helped translate the collective artistic vision into immersive moments of placemaking beyond the building’s walls, as well as BAS, whose mission to uplift Black artists and narratives ensured that representation and cultural equity were integral to the project from its earliest stages. These pieces complement the interior work by extending the convention center’s creative identity into the surrounding public realm. The following pieces will be located throughout the newly opened Elm Street Plaza, with the installation of the pieces occurring in Spring 2026: Coloratura, AGAR Studios; Freeforms, Luke Lehenbauer; True American Music, Jason Snell; and Twinkle, Twinkle Baby, Black Art Speaks.

“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.”

A skilled team of art handlers with ArtWorks were also tasked with deinstalling existing installations during construction. The nine deinstalled pieces that were rehomed will now be featured at various local institutions, including the Mercantile Library, Cincinnati Public Library, Cincinnati Recreation Commission, and Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, among others. The installations that remain on display at the convention center today include: 84.51 Exterior Mural, Tristan Eaton (2022); Confluence, Jessica Wolf (2019); Industrial Mosaic Murals, Winold Reiss; Kaleidoscope, designers Sandra Gross and Leah Busch Rockel (2021); Space Walk, Charley Harper (1969-70); and Wall of Queens, James Pate (2017).

“We are incredibly grateful to the arts organizations and artists who partnered with us on this project,” Katie Westbrook, SVP of Development for 3CDC, said. “Their creativity and collaboration not only made this vision possible, but elevated it—bringing depth and vibrancy to the artwork both inside and outside the building. The seamless integration of existing pieces with new installations reflects the spirit of convergence that defines this reimagined space. We can’t wait to welcome the community into the modernized Convention Center and showcase how art and architecture together create a truly inspiring experience.

The reimagined convention center will officially open Jan. 7, following a public ribbon cutting ceremony at 11 AM.

# # #