Case study · Mural

The Urbana Mural

A blank downtown wall, turned into a painted history of the town.

The brief

The Urbana Mural is a transformative, large-scale public mural located in the heart of Riley's hometown. As project lead, Riley independently raised over $29,000 through a grassroots campaign to bring this vision to life, leading all aspects from community research, campaigning, branding and concept development, execution, media, and installation. Spanning 23 ft. by 60 ft., the mural weaves together local stories, history, and identity into a cohesive narrative that stands as a landmark in Urbana, a permanent fixture of the city's visual DNA.

Partnered with the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau and Champaign County Arts Council, the project continues to spark conversation, inspire civic pride, and exemplify what community-driven art can accomplish. The Urbana Mural is recognized in the Murals Across Ohio program, celebrating public art ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary in 2026, and ranked Top 3 in Zibra's national Golden Brush Awards, 2026.

Before & after

From blank wall to landmark

The downtown wall before the mural, a plain surface facing the street — Before

The same wall after, covered by the finished Urbana Mural — After

Gallery

Up close

Two artists drawing the mural's outlines onto the bare wall, one working from an iPad reference — Outlines going up on the bare wall

Aerial view of the mural in progress, with painters working from ladders and a scissor lift — Mid-paint, the crew working across the wall

Riley Johnson brushing paint onto the mural's hand-lettered history panel while working from a lift — Riley painting from the lift

Riley Johnson crouched in front of the mural's painted City of Urbana stamp — Riley at the City of Urbana stamp

A crowd gathered along the finished mural cutting a red ribbon at the dedication — Ribbon cutting on dedication day

Credits

Supporting Artists: Madison Larocque, Abby Bunch, Olivia Hahn, Audrey Carranza
Platinum Patrons: Kelly Fleming & Andrea Shiffer, Sellman Enterprises LLC, Leigh Ann Simpson, Dees Brew Coffee, F&M Bank
Special Thanks: Champaign County Arts Council, Champaign County Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau

A wall people used to walk past is now a wall people stop for.

The Urbana Mural, painted by hand

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