Jonathan Queen, of narrative realism renown, was recently awarded a MuralWorks commission by Cincinnati’s ArtWorks. Of MuralWorks, the organization explains: “Our City is a gallery. That’s the premise behind ArtWorks’ award-winning public art employment program. ArtWorks employs teens (14 – 21 years old) and professional artists to work side-by-side with communities to transform our region. Since the program began in 2007, ArtWorks has painted 46 murals in 28 neighborhoods in Cincinnati and in 3 nearby cities.”

Jonathan, along with many other artists, submitted a vision for a mural on the east side of the building that houses the headquarters for the national supermarket chain, Kroger, in downtown Cincinnati on Central Parkway, between Vine and Walnut. A requirement of the design for the wall, which measures 48 x 96 feet, is that it captures the idea of “Fresh”.

Jonathan Queen’s winning design will be executed under his direction over seven weeks this summer with the assistance of a youth team of 12 apprentices from 16-21 and two teaching artist assistants. A classic Queen rendition of a still life, the completed mural will fill the view of passersby with a bounty of the freshest, most varied and colorful produce filling, and flowing from, a wood produce crate.