Covington Central Riverfront Landmark
Public Art Competition
Presentation: Tuesday, September 30, 6:30 p.m. at The Carnegie
Eight finalists have been selected to move forward in the competition to create a landmark public art installation for the Covington Central Riverfront neighborhood, one of Northern Kentucky’s most significant redevelopment projects.
The finalists were chosen from among 25 submissions received earlier this summer. A panel made up of local art experts, City stakeholders, and Covington residents carefully reviewed each proposal before narrowing the field to the eight. The finalists’ submissions, which include physical models, printed images, and digital displays, will be showcased to the public from September 15 – 18 at the Hellmann Creative Center during open building hours, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday. An after-hours showing will also take place on Thursday, September 18, from 5 – 8 p.m.
Community input is a key part of the selection process. Visitors will be able to review each proposal and leave comments directly for the artists in on-site comment books.
The public will also have an opportunity to hear directly from the artists. On Tuesday, September 30, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at The Carnegie, each finalist will present their work, explain their inspiration, and share why their piece would serve as a landmark contribution to the Riverfront neighborhood. Each presentation will be limited to five minutes, followed by time for audience questions and comments.
Project Finalists
Project: You Are Here
Artist: Pattie Byron and Janet Creekmore (Covington, KY) Janet Creekmore is a long-time resident of Covington, KY where she serves on the Board of Architectural Review and Design and regularly executes public art projects in the community. Recently, she completed court murals at Randolf Park, the “Great Things Ahead” under Covington Station bridge at Pike Street and the Scribble graffiti art floodwall project. Pattie Byron is a resident and artist of Covington, Ky. She feels deeply connected to the vibrant and evolving spirit of Covington. Byron actively contributes to Covington’s cultural fabric and invests in its continued growth through art, connection, and shared purpose.
Project: The Internal Depart.
Artist: Beth Campbell (Brooklyn, NY) Beth Campbell is an artist based in New York who has exhibited frequently in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region. Her practice explores the overlapping nature of our world; how we perceive and experience our surroundings and how we are altered by them. Campbell has completed public commissions for University of Texas at Austin; The Armory Show; Hugo Boss; Seomi Gallery, Seoul, Korea; Bloomberg Financial; Whitney Museum of American Art.
Project: Before Walls, There Was a Home
Artist: Celeste Cooning (Covington, KY) Celeste Cooning is best known for creating large-scale integrated art installations. Aside from various exhibitions, her work adorns city parks, storefronts, special events, and the stage. Celeste was the first Artist in Residence at Amazon Corporate Headquarters in 2018. More of her artwork lives at Harborview Medical Center West, Starbucks Global, Theo Chocolate Tour Hopper, and Amazon’s Bigfoot building in downtown Seattle.
Project: Ripple
Artist: Emboss Design (Newport, KY) Emboss Design is a multidisciplinary architecture and design firm rooted in the belief that the built environment can profoundly impact how we feel, connect, and thrive. Based inNewport, Kentucky, Emboss brings over four decades of experience crafting spaces and moments that elevate the human experience.
Project: Pride Ascending
Artist: Alex Hutton (Larchmont, NY) Alex Hutton is an artist based in Larchmont, NY who was born and raised in Cincinnati. Hutton has an extensive background in scenic painting and set design for theatre. Hutton believes that cities have always been drivers of social change precisely because they concentrate the creative energies of a large population in a defined geographic area. Sometimes these creative impulses align and sometimes they conflict with each other, but they ultimately express the true hopes and aspirations of the people. Image credit: Pride Ascending; Courtesy of the artist
Project: 19 Currents
Artist: Level Studio (Brooklyn, NY) + Infinity Productions (Louisville, KY) Level Studio is a team of designers based in New York City and New England with experience ranges from conceptual design through construction administration, and includes various typologies such as gallery/exhibition, residential, and public facing projects. Infinity Productions is a custom design build studio in Louisville that transforms imaginative ideas into tangible realities across various fields, including theatre, film, hospitality, exhibitions, and marketing displays. Image credit: 19 Currents; Project Team Credits: Level Studio + Infinity Productions
Project: CAIRN
Artist: MATCOM lab (Dayton, KY and Cincinnati, OH) MATCOM lab is a design research laboratory at the University of Cincinnati dedicated to advancing architectural innovation through material design, computational methods, and construction assemblies. By engaging audiences in this ongoing dialogue, MATCOM lab’s work invites reflection on the complex relationships that shape our built environment and encourages collaborative exploration toward innovative and sustainable futures in design and construction.
Project: Contemporary Goose Girl
Artist: Cheri Rekow and Christopher Georgiades (Cincinnati, OH) Cheri Rekow and Christopher Georgiades are a mother and son team with deep connections to Covington and the NKY/Cincinnati region. Covington and art are in their DNA. Rekow is the lead, artist/designer, with experience in sculpting and urban design. She is a semi-retired urban planner with a 40 year portfolio of land-use development, transportation planning, and civic engagement. Georgiades has a degree in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Robotics and Automation. Image credit: Contemporary Goose Girl; Courtesy of the artists
