Texas-based artist to install massive mural in Cincinnati’s Convention District
YOU’RE WATCHING WLWT NEWS 5 LEADING THE WAY. WELL, IT IS A PROJECT MORE THAN FIVE YEARS IN THE MAKING. SUPPORTERS BELIEVE IT COULD CHANGE THE FUTURE OF DOWNTOWN CINCINNATI. SO, YOU KNOW, LAST NIGHT WE TOLD YOU HOW CONSTRUCTION IS NOW SET TO BEGIN ON THIS NEW HALF $1 BILLION CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL. TONIGHT, OUR WLWT NEWS FIVE’S DANIELLE DINDAK TAKES US TO THE CONSTRUCTION SITE FOR AN INSIDE LOOK ON THIS MASSIVE PROJECT DOWN HERE. RIGHT NOW, IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE MUCH IS GOING ON. SURE, THE FENCING IS UP AND CREWS HAVE STARTED TO MOVE IN, BUT YOU HAVE TO GO UP TO THE SKY AND USE YOUR IMAGINATION, BECAUSE THAT’S WHEN YOU’LL GET THE SENSE OF WHAT IS TO COME. A 700 ROOM HOTEL THAT MANY SAY WILL CHANGE THE GAME FOR CINCINNATI. MONUMENTAL. THIS UNLOCKS EVERYTHING FOR CINCINNATI. UNLOCKING THE FUTURE. AND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR, A 700 ROOM HOTEL MARRIOTT HEADQUARTER HOTEL. THERE WILL BE A NEW SKY BRIDGE THE CONVENTION GARAGE TO THE FIRST FINANCIAL CENTER. THERE WILL BE A RESTAURANT ON THE FIRST FLOOR ON FIFTH STREET, A TERRACE BAR ON THE SECOND FLOOR OVERLOOKING FIFTH STREET. ALL OF THIS IS, WHAT, MORE THAN HALF $1 BILLION LOOKS LIKE. THE FINANCING ENDED UP BEING SPLIT CLOSE TO 5050, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE. YOU LOOK AT THE CITY OF CINCINNATI, HAMILTON COUNTY, THREE CDC VISIT CINCY AND SO MANY OTHER PARTNERS, INCLUDING PORTMAN. IT IS A TESTAMENT TO HOW WE DO THINGS IN CINCINNATI. BUT THIS STORY. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS NOT JUST A HOTEL. INSTEAD, WHAT HAPPENS AFTER IT OPENS ITS DOORS. THIS WILL UNLOCK BIGGER CONVENTIONS THAT DON’T WANT TO BE IN EIGHT, NINE, TEN HOTELS. VISIT CINCY INTERIM PRESIDENT AND CEO JULIE KIRKPATRICK. THIS IS A CATALYST FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE NOT CHOSEN CINCINNATI IN THE PAST, HAVE HIT PAUSE ON US, SAYING THAT WE’RE NOT READY TO COME TO CINCINNATI. WHILE NEIGHBORING CITIES HAVE BEEN ROLLING OUT THE WELCOME MAT FOR MAJOR NATIONAL EVENTS, CINCINNATI HAS OFTEN BEEN LEFT OFF THE GUEST LIST. BUT THE HOPE IS THAT THIS HOTEL IS THE KEY TO GETTING THE BIG TICKET INVITATION. THIS UNLOCKS, EVENTUALLY HOW WE GET A POLITICAL CONVENTION DONE HERE, HOW WE GET A DRAFT DONE HERE EVENTUALLY, HOW WE GET SOME NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS DONE HERE. SO THIS HEADQUARTER HOTEL, I CAN’T SAY IT ENOUGH. IT’S A CATALYST FOR BIG THINGS THAT ARE COMING. THIS PROJECT WILL BE LATER NEXT MONTH. AS FAR AS WHEN THIS HOTEL WILL OPEN ITS DOORS AND YOU CAN START BOOKING ROOMS, THAT WON’T BE UNTIL THE END OF 2028.
Texas-based artist to install massive mural in Cincinnati’s Convention District
Updated: 5:04 PM EDT Jul 9, 2026
Cincinnati’s renovated Convention District will soon be getting a massive mural.The Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. announced Thursday that DAAS, a Texas-based artist, will design and install a 20,000-square-foot mural on the side of the Convention Center Garage.Located on W. Fourth Street, the Convention Center Garage sits within view of the newly renovated First Financial Center.The selection of DAAS to design and install the mural came after a selection committee with 1001 Colors reviewed more than 100 submissions and narrowed the pool down to three finalists.“Having the opportunity to contract DAAS for this massive opportunity is a huge win for Cincinnati,” said Liz Miller, senior director of programs for 1001 Colors. “Not only does DAAS bring with him a wealth of firsthand experience producing monumental public murals, but he also brings his signature abstract aesthetic – an artistic style that is less represented among our city’s public art portfolio. The way DAAS manipulates color, shape, and movement in his compositions will help transform a parking garage into a notable public landmark that will sit cohesively among the many other artful developments and installations within the Convention Center corridor and the Convention Center itself.”DAAS will travel to Cincinnati for the work, beginning the first week of August. The team will paint on-site Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., until the mural is finished.Completion of the mural is expected by the middle of September, pending possible weather delays.
CINCINNATI —
Cincinnati’s renovated Convention District will soon be getting a massive mural.
The Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. announced Thursday that DAAS, a Texas-based artist, will design and install a 20,000-square-foot mural on the side of the Convention Center Garage.
Located on W. Fourth Street, the Convention Center Garage sits within view of the newly renovated First Financial Center.
The selection of DAAS to design and install the mural came after a selection committee with 1001 Colors reviewed more than 100 submissions and narrowed the pool down to three finalists.
“Having the opportunity to contract DAAS for this massive opportunity is a huge win for Cincinnati,” said Liz Miller, senior director of programs for 1001 Colors. “Not only does DAAS bring with him a wealth of firsthand experience producing monumental public murals, but he also brings his signature abstract aesthetic – an artistic style that is less represented among our city’s public art portfolio. The way DAAS manipulates color, shape, and movement in his compositions will help transform a parking garage into a notable public landmark that will sit cohesively among the many other artful developments and installations within the Convention Center corridor and the Convention Center itself.”
DAAS will travel to Cincinnati for the work, beginning the first week of August. The team will paint on-site Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., until the mural is finished.
Completion of the mural is expected by the middle of September, pending possible weather delays.