Open To: Ohio artists, or artists with Ohio ties (born and raised, school, etc.)

Commission Amount: $150,000 (inclusive of all expenses, except framing and hanging)

Entry Open Date: Tuesday, August 30, 2022

Entry Deadline: Thursday, October 13, 2022

Project Summary: The Capitol Square Foundation is commissioning a significant work of art for permanent display at the Ohio Statehouse. The Capitol Square Foundation and the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board have selected the theme of "Ohioans in Space.”

The commissioned painting on canvas shall be 9 x 12 feet. The painting is intended to hang near the Statehouse Rotunda on the opposite wall to the Wilbur and Orville Wright and Their Accomplishments painting.

In coordination with the Ohio Arts Council, the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board’s Art Committee will review artists’ proposals. The Art Committee consists of representatives from the state’s arts sector including the Ohio Arts Council; museum leaders; a representative from the Governor, the Ohio House of Representatives, the Ohio Senate; the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board; and the Capitol Square Foundation. The Art Committee will select the winning artist.

Project Background: Ohio is home to pioneers in many fields. One of the areas in which Ohioans have blazed new trails is spaceflight. According to NASA, 25 astronauts are Ohio natives, having made nearly 80 space flights, with three of those flights being trips to the Moon. Ohio astronauts have logged more than 22,000 hours in space.

Most notable Ohio astronauts:

• John Glenn: Glenn, a New Concord native, was the first American to orbit the Earth in 1962. Glenn returned to space in 1998 at the age of 77, becoming the oldest American to travel into space. Glenn also served the people of Ohio in the United States Senate from 1974 to 1999.


• Neil Armstrong: On July 20, 1969, Wapakoneta native Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon as part of the Apollo 11 mission.


• Jim Lovell: Lovell, who was born in Cleveland, participated in four spaceflight missions. The most notable of these missions was Apollo 13, which suffered an explosion while on the way to the moon but was brought back safely to Earth.


• Judith Resnick: Resnick was selected for NASA’s astronaut program in 1978 and participated in the first voyage of the Space Shuttle Discovery. Resnick, who was born in Akron, was a mission specialist aboard Space Shuttle Challenger flight STS-51-L when the orbiter exploded 73 seconds after liftoff killing all seven crew members.




Artistic Goals: The artist is asked to consider a design that represents Ohioans in Space. Ohio is known as the birthplace of great astronauts. Ohio is home to related aerospace museums and companies. The final work of art will represent the unrelenting strength and determination of the astronauts, men and women, and their contributions to space travel and exploration.




The painting must help the public, public officials, and visitors to the Ohio Statehouse understand the history and contributions Ohioans have made to space, and that even still today, we continue to work towards providing a specialized environment in the state which allows aerospace companies to thrive.




The Origin of the Ohio Capitol and Statehouse: In 1812 the state legislature chose Columbus as the site for the new state capital of Ohio, a title previously held by both Chillicothe and Zanesville. A ten-acre plot of land east of the Scioto River was donated for the construction of a new statehouse by four investors from Franklinton: John Kerr, Lyne Starling, John Johnston, and Alexander McLaughlin. After funds to build a statehouse were authorized on January 26, 1838, a three-member commission was selected to oversee the design and construction. A national design competition was advertised in Ohio, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., and three designs were selected out of the sixty submitted. Henry Walter of Cincinnati submitted the winning design, but ultimately the three designs were merged into a single composite design that became the basis for initiating construction.




Statehouse Renovations: The Statehouse underwent a comprehensive restoration project that began in 1988 to restore the historic appearance and character of the building. This project also involved updating the building for modern engineering systems and providing new spaces for a growing population. An addition designed by Schooley Caldwell Associates was also added as a connector, the Atrium, between the Statehouse and the restored and re-named Senate Building. The Statehouse restoration project lasted until 1996.




Practical Considerations: Artwork considered for installation in the Ohio Statehouse must be of the highest quality and durability. As a permanent piece of art it should be created with the highest quality products and craftsmanship.




Selection Review Process: Artists should submit up to nine images of past work that demonstrate their ability to take on a project of this scale and scope. In addition to the nine images an image list should be uploaded as a pdf. Additionally, an artist resume and artist statement should be submitted on the ArtCall.org site. Proposals are not submitted at this time. Instead, the Art Committee will review submitted materials and will develop a list of semi-finalist artists. These semi-finalists will be invited for a site visit. More detailed information about the Ohio Statehouse and the site will be made available during the site visit. Each semi-finalist will be offered a proposal fee honorarium for their site visit. Artists will then be given time to create a proposal for the commissioned painting. Artists’ proposals will be judged competitively by the Art Committee. The committee will recommend an artist for final approval by the Capitol Square Foundation and the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board.




Submitted proposals become the property of the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board and the Capitol Square Foundation.




Questions about this opportunity? Contact: Kathy Signorino, Director, Individual Artist Programs, Ohio Arts Council [email protected]




Please see commission document for full project information, and click here to register for the application form.