Murals Across the City

Naijal “Dayzwhun” Hawkins is a freelance artist skilled in multiple styles and mediums. He specializes in acrylics, digital design and aerosol art and has been an active member of Cleveland’s art scene for more than 30 years. His skills include drawing, painting, mural painting, graphic design and tattooing. He began painting murals at age 13 and is a graduate of the Cleveland School of the Arts.

His credits include murals at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, voting rights murals in Selma, Alabama, and countless works of street art across the country. Dayz has worked with teens to create murals for Cleveland summer youth programs and mentored young adults inspired by his art. Today, he continues to strive for greatness through art shared with the public on walls throughout Cleveland.

About the Design:

This mural pays homage to Cleveland’s hardworking roots, from steel mill and salt mine workers to innovators such as the Wright brothers and Garrett Morgan. The design also features the iconic CMHA building that towers over the West 25th Street area in Ohio City, bringing together people, places and industries that represent the region’s rich history.

Born and raised in Mayfield Heights, Ohio, Holly Brenton discovered her passion for art as a child and earned a degree in studio art, painting and drawing from Kent State University. She began her career as a graphic designer before founding her own firm, Artica Design, in 1996, producing branding, logos, and print materials for clients nationwide. During the 2020 lockdown, she embraced digital illustration using Procreate, leading to the creation of her upcoming venture, Artagami, which highlights her Cleveland-inspired digital art.

"Art is my life. It’s part of who I am. I love what I do—I dream it and live it. I approach each project as a visual puzzle, analyzing how each piece fits together to form a compelling whole."

About the Design:

The mural depicts Lake Erie—Cleveland’s greatest natural asset—featuring the iconic willow from Edgewater Beach and the Cleveland skyline in the distance. It portrays a woman walking her dog along the shore, celebrating the city’s parks and green spaces, and a musician heading toward the skyline, symbolizing the spirit of creativity and the Rock Hall.

Bruno Casiano is a Puerto Rican artist based in Cleveland, Ohio. Born in Gary, Indiana, he moved at age 10 with his family to their hometown of Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico. The island’s natural landscapes and rural life strongly influenced his artistic vision. His work blends traditional and contemporary styles, often evoking the look of serigraphy, a key element of Puerto Rican folk art. Common motifs include mountains, ceiba trees, caves, leaves, and water—rendered in bold, high-contrast forms.

About the design:

This mural was inspired by the rich diversity of cultures and communities that make up Cleveland — a city beautifully connected through its bridges and neighborhoods.

Kelle Schwab is an artist, designer, muralist and art director. After completing her college degrees, she moved to Cleveland to work for American Greetings as an art director and designer, which is a position she's held for more than 13 years. When not working for clients, she creates fine art, travels to off-the-beaten-path international spaces, amuses herself with strange animal facts, hikes, skis and studies yoga, wellness and whiskey.

About the Design

The mural is focused on the Luna Moth, which is native to Cleveland and, she believes, creatively personifies the city's spirit. Its verdant shade symbolizes Cleveland's ambitious vitality and offers a fun photo opportunity that encapsulates the city's vibrancy. Native to Cleveland, the "Forget-Me-Not” flowers are associated with determination and an underdog mentality. Despite their modest size, these two elements flourish in challenging environments, embodying the city's ability to overcome obstacles and emerge stronger.

Isaiah Williams is a consistent and prolific practitioner of expressing himself through art. He has always been drawn to drawing landscapes, creatures and modern art concepts from a young age. As an artist, Isaiah is actively looking for ways to inspire youth and bring the community together. He describes his style of art as "wild and unruly, but also neatly packaged." The result is art that's understood by the average viewer.

About The Design

With all of his pieces, Isaiah's art is intended to beautify a space while also containing subliminal messages that aim to invoke deep thought within the viewer’s mind. He uses a multitude of colors and textures behind every stroke for the purpose of leaving an everlasting impression.

After suffering a sports-related injury, Stina Aleah turned to art and fell in love with the power of creativity to heal herself physically and mentally. As a self-taught painter, her passion for art and storytelling has become an essential part of her identity and career. Stina uses her life experiences to create breathtaking oil paintings that leave audiences motivated and inspired. The artist’s work has been collected both nationally and internationally, collaborating with major corporations, Emmy-nominated television series, celebrities, galleries and exhibitions.

About the Design

The design features newspaper clippings and focuses on different aspects of Cleveland. The goal is to educate Clevelanders on what Cleveland is all about and promote a sense of pride and happiness when seeing what the city has to offer. In the bottom right corner, there is an interactive section titled, "The Land of Creating Your Own Story," accompanied by a poem written by the artist. It is meant to inspire those looking at this mural to step into their youthful joyfulness and create a beautiful life in Cleveland.