A 1,000-Foot Tribute to Industry, Heritage, and Community
Oshkosh, Wis. — In a landmark public art undertaking, Discover Oshkosh is proud to announce the installation of a 1,000-foot-long mural on the riverfront-facing back wall of the Cummins plant on High Avenue. A partnership with Cummins and the JEK Foundation, this project, when complete, will become the largest mural in Wisconsin to date and a bold visual anchor along the Oshkosh Riverwalk.
Renowned muralist Mauricio Ramirez (mauriciopaints.com) has been selected to create the piece. Ramirez is a Mexican-American visual artist celebrated for his vibrant geometric style, layered symbolism, and ability to weave local stories into monumental works. His murals can be found across the United States in cities such as Chicago, Minneapolis, Seattle, Kansas City, and Albuquerque. In Wisconsin, he is best known for his 55-foot Giannis Antetokounmpo mural in Milwaukee. He has also completed projects for major national clients, from the NFL to corporate partners, while remaining committed to community-based storytelling in public art.
Drawing on his Latinx heritage and background in street art, Ramirez sees public murals as more than decoration. They are cultural expressions that shape the subconscious of a community. His Oshkosh project will celebrate the city’s industrial and cultural heritage, nodding to the timber and aviation industries, the iconic Oshkosh B’gosh brand, and the legacy of Lewis Hine’s photography. The work will also highlight the continued innovation inside the Cummins facility, which produced the first manufactured axle in the world and remains a hub of automotive manufacturing.
The project represents more than a single piece of art. It is the first major investment in Discover Oshkosh’s new placemaking initiative, which will leverage investments in public art and placemaking to create more dynamic public spaces across Oshkosh.
“There is no denying the infectious enthusiasm and vision that Discover Oshkosh brings to the table,” said Courtney Lasky, Trustee of the JEK Foundation. “The JEK Foundation is thrilled to partner with them and with Cummins on this dynamic placemaking project. We can only hope that this inspirational mural will spur further creative endeavors and partnerships along Oshkosh’s riverfront and throughout our entire community.”
This project hopes to draw attention to the transformative investments the City of Oshkosh and Winnebago County have made in the riverfront trails, now connecting 11 miles that stretch from Lake Winnebago to Lake Butte des Morts and back along both sides of the Fox River. With Ramirez’s mural rising along its path, the riverwalk will begin its shift from a recreational asset to a cultural destination.
“We often talk about the riverwalk as a mansion with no furniture,” said Discover Oshkosh Executive Director Amy Albright. “With Mauricio’s vision, we will turn an industrial wall into a vibrant destination, motivating more people to use this asset we’ve invested in and making people feel pride in Oshkosh as the bike or boat past it.”
Ramirez echoed that sentiment: “For me, murals are not just decoration—they are stories cast in color. In Oshkosh, I see many stories: from timber, to factories, to the hum of aviation and machines. My hope is that every walker, cyclist, or visitor on the Riverwalk will feel connected to the past, present, and future of this great place.”
The project will begin in early October and should be completed by the end of the month. Viewers can watch the mural unfold on the river or riverwalk. Easiest access to this stretch of the riverwalk is heading north from campus or south from the Public Museum. For more information on this and other placemaking initiatives, head to visitoshkosh.com/placemaking.
The JEK Foundation, Inc. is based in Oshkosh and supports a variety of causes including basic needs, cultural initiatives, economic development, healthcare and youth throughout Oshkosh and the surrounding area.
