Murals, Mosaics, Graffiti, Street art & Public art. Pittsburgh considered #1 in the USA. Maxo Vanka!
- Jon Litle
- Jun 6, 2023
- 12 min read
There are many different names for murals, depending on the style, technique, or location of the artwork. Some common synonyms for murals include:
Wall painting
Fresco
Mosaic
Graffiti
Street art
Public art
Decorative painting
Impressionistic painting
Postmodern painting
The specific name for a mural will often depend on the artist's style and technique. For example, a mural painted in fresco technique is called a fresco, while a mural created using mosaic tiles is called a mosaic.
Murals can also be classified by their location. For example, a mural painted on the side of a building is called a mural, while a mural painted on the ceiling is called a ceiling fresco.
No matter what they are called, murals are a form of public art that can be found all over the world. They can be used to celebrate history, commemorate important events, or simply to add beauty to a community.
Here are some examples of different types of murals:
Fresco: A fresco is a mural painting that is executed on wet plaster. The pigment is absorbed into the plaster, resulting in a durable and long-lasting image. Frescoes were popular in the Renaissance and are still used by some artists today.
Mosaic: A mosaic is a mural made up of small pieces of colored glass, stone, or tile. Mosaics can be found in many different cultures and are often used to decorate religious buildings.
Graffiti: Graffiti is a type of mural that is often created illegally. Graffiti can be used to express political or social messages, or simply to create art
Street art: Street art is a broad term that encompasses any type of art that is created in public spaces. Street art can include murals, graffiti, sculptures, and other forms of art.
Public art: Public art is any type of art that is created for the public. Public art can be found in parks, museums, and other public spaces.
Murals are a valuable part of our cultural heritage. They can be used to educate, entertain, and inspire us. Public art in Pittsburgh (Murals // Wall Art )
the Mexican War Streets in Pittsburgh have superb murals.
There are a number of murals located throughout the neighborhood, many of which were created as part of the Mexican War Streets Mural Project.
The project was started in 2006 by the Mexican War Streets Association and has since commissioned over 20 murals. The murals depict a variety of subjects, including the history of the neighborhood, its residents, and its architecture.
Here are some of the murals that can be found in the Mexican War Streets:
The Mexican War Streets: This mural is located at the corner of Buena Vista and North Avenues and depicts a map of the neighborhood.
The Buena Vista Firehouse: This mural is located on the side of the Buena Vista Firehouse and depicts a fire engine from the early 1900s.
The Mexican War Streets Children: This mural is located on the side of a house on Buena Vista Street and depicts a group of children playing there.
The Mexican War Streets Architecture: This mural is located on the side of a house on Buena Vista Street and depicts a variety of architectural styles.
The Mexican War Streets murals are a great way to learn about the history and culture of this unique part of Pittsburgh. Also a great place to take photos and to enjoy the range of creativity, talent and eclectic contributions.
Below are some of the most recognized murals in the Pittsburgh area:

The Bride on Penn Avenue: This iconic mural is located in the Strip District and features a young bride walking up the steps of a painted house. It is a popular spot for photo ops and is considered to be one of the most famous murals in Pittsburgh.
Mac Miller Mural: This mural was painted in honor of the late rapper Mac Miller, who was a Pittsburgh native. It is located in East Liberty and features a colorful portrait of Miller along with some of his lyrics.
The Legends of Pittsburgh: This mural is located in the Cultural District and features some of the best Pirates players of all time. It is a great place to learn about the history of the Pirates and to see some of their most famous players immortalized in paint.
Josh Gibson Mural: This mural is located at Voodoo Brewery in Homestead and features Negro League star Josh Gibson. Gibson was one of the greatest baseball players of all time and his mural is a great tribute to his legacy.
Baron Batch Murals: Former Steelers running back Baron Batch has created a number of murals throughout the city. His murals often feature positive messages and are a great way to see some of the city's most creative artwork.
One kick ass mural is located in Troy Hill.
It was painted by Carolyn Kelly in 2009 as part of the Sprout Fund's Public Art Program. The mural depicts a tree with leaves representing different aspects of Troy Hill's history, such as the Heinz Corporation and St. Anthony's Church. The mural is located on the side of a building at 2114 Brighton Road.
Here are some of the reasons why the Troy Hill Loves mural is loved in Troy Hill:
It is a beautiful and colorful mural that celebrates the history and culture of Troy Hill.
It is located in a prominent location on Brighton Road, making it easy for people to see and appreciate.
It is a positive and uplifting message that encourages people to love their community.
If you are looking for a beautiful and inspiring mural to see in Troy Hill, the Troy Hill Loves mural is a great option.
Here are some of the most popular interior murals painted in Pittsburgh historic buildings:
The Great Hall Mural at the Carnegie Museum of Art: This mural was painted by John Steuart Curry in 1947 and depicts a scene from American history. It is one of the most famous murals in Pittsburgh and is a popular spot for visitors to take photos
The Music Room Mural at the Frick Art & Historical Center: This mural was painted by William Glackens in 1916 and depicts a scene of a musical performance. It is a beautiful and intricate mural that is a popular spot for weddings and other events.
The Grand Staircase Mural at the Duquesne Club: This mural was painted by John Singer Sargent in 1906 and depicts a scene of a hunt. It is a stunning and colorful mural that is a popular spot for members of the Duquesne Club to gather.
The Cathedral of Learning Murals: These murals were painted by a number of different artists in the early 1900s and depict scenes from the history of Pittsburgh. They are located on the walls of the Cathedral of Learning, which is a 42-story Gothic Revival building that is part of the University of Pittsburgh.
These are just a few of the many beautiful and impressive interior murals that can be found in Pittsburgh historic buildings. If you are interested in seeing some of these murals, be sure to check out some of the following places:
Carnegie Museum of Art: This museum is home to a number of different art collections, including the Great Hall Mural.
Frick Art & Historical Center: This museum is home to a collection of American and European art, including the Music Room Mural.
Duquesne Club: This private club is home to the Grand Staircase Mural.
Cathedral of Learning: This building is home to a number of different murals, including the Cathedral of Learning Murals.
Graffiti in Pittsburgh Here are some of the best places to find graffiti in Pittsburgh:
Clement Street Graffiti Alley: This alley is located in the Strip District and is home to a wide variety of graffiti, from simple tags to elaborate murals.
The Warhol Museum: This museum is home to a collection of Andy Warhol's work, including some of his graffiti paintings.
Station Square: This waterfront area is home to a number of murals, including some that were created by local graffiti artists.
The South Side: This neighborhood is home to a number of vibrant murals, many of which celebrate the area's history and culture.
The North Side: This neighborhood is also home to a number of murals, including some that were created by local graffiti artists.
These are just a few of the many places where you can find graffiti in Pittsburgh. If you are interested in seeing some of this unique and creative art, be sure to check out some of these places.
Please note that graffiti is often considered to be vandalism, so it is important to be respectful of the property of others when viewing it. But here is my favorite of all We go back to Millvale once again.
Here are all the details of Maxo Vanka Croatian St. Nicholas Millvale Catholic Church:
Location: 24 Maryland Avenue, Millvale, Pennsylvania 15209
Architect: Frederick C. Sauer
Opened: 1922
Area: 65,340 ft²
Murals: 25 murals by Maxo Vanka, painted between 1937 and 1941
Style: Expressionist
Subject matter: The murals depict scenes from Croatian history, culture, and religion, as well as themes of social justice and peace.
Significance: The murals are considered to be one of the most important works of public art in Pittsburgh. They are a testament to the Croatian immigrant community in Millvale and to the work of Maxo Vanka, a talented and influential artist.
Maxo Vanka was a Croatian-born artist who immigrated to the United States in 1920. He settled in Millvale, a working-class neighborhood in Pittsburgh, and became involved with the Croatian community there. In 1937, he was commissioned by Father Albert Zagar, the pastor of St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church, to paint a series of murals on the walls of the church. Vanka worked on the murals for four years, and they were completed in 1941.
The murals are a powerful and evocative representation of the Croatian immigrant experience. They depict scenes from Croatian history, culture, and religion, as well as themes of social justice and peace. The murals are a testament to the strength and resilience of the Croatian community in Millvale, and they are a reminder of the importance of preserving and celebrating cultural heritage.
The murals have been recognized for their artistic and historical significance. They were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, and they were awarded the Save America's Treasures grant in 2004. The murals are a valuable part of the cultural landscape of Pittsburgh, and they are a reminder of the importance of public art.
If you are interested in seeing the murals, St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church is open to the public for tours on Saturdays at 11am and 12:30pm. You can also learn more about the murals and the artist at the Save Maxo Vanka website.

Maxo Vanka - circa 1941, 100 SF Mural titled Injustice

Maxo Vanka - circa 1937, 75 SF mural titled Pastoral Croatia

Maxo Vanka circa 1941 75 SF Mural titled The Capitalist
Here are all the details on Maxo Vanka, an artist from Pittsburgh:
Full name: Maksimilijan "Maxo" Vanka
Date of birth: May 11, 1889
Date of death: February 2, 1963
Nationality: Croatian
Style: Expressionist
Subject matter: Social justice, peace, Croatian history, culture, and religion
Significance: Vanka is considered to be one of the most important Croatian-American artists of the 20th century. His work is known for its expressionist style and its focus on social justice and peace.
Vanka was born in Zagreb, Croatia, in 1889. He studied art at the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb and the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich. In 1920, he immigrated to the United States and settled in Pittsburgh. He became involved with the Croatian community in Pittsburgh and began to paint murals on the walls of Croatian churches and community centers.
Vanka's murals are a powerful and evocative representation of the Croatian immigrant experience. They depict scenes from Croatian history, culture, and religion, as well as themes of social justice and peace. The murals are a testament to the strength and resilience of the Croatian community in Pittsburgh, and they are a reminder of the importance of preserving and celebrating cultural heritage.
Vanka's work has been exhibited in galleries and museums throughout the United States and Europe. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the Guggenheim Fellowship in 1936. Vanka died in 1963 in Mexico.
More details on Maxo Vanka from Time article written in 1937.
Of some 200,000 Croats in the U. S., about 50,000 live near Pittsburgh. No (luckier than any of these laboring people, until last spring, were the 400 families in the parish of St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church in Millvale, a poor little town on the north bank of the Allegheny just above Pittsburgh's mills.
Then one day in April an agile wisp of a man with a soft beard came to live in the parish house with Father Albert Zagar. Scaffolding went up in the church and every day at early mass Croatian women could see how far along the church's new artist had come with his murals. By last week report of his completed work had gone far beyond Millvale and Pittsburgh, had put the parish of St. Nicholas in a class by itself as harboring one of the few distinguished sets of church murals in the U. S.
Millvale's murals were especially satisfying to the artist because they were his first big job in the U. S. and they were done for his countrymen. Born in Zagreb, ancient capital of Croatia, Maximilian Vanka grew up with peasants, did not discover until he was a young man that he was an illegitimate son of a noble family. As a fachook (noble bastard) young Maximilian belonged to a well-recognized caste in Croatia under the gay regime of Austria's Emperor Franz Joseph.
His upper-class connections enabled him to study art at the Royal Academy of Zagreb and then at the Brussels Academy of Fine Arts, which awarded him its first prize and gold medal for composition in the year Franz Joseph's nephew Franz Ferdinand happened to get fatefully shot, not in Croatia, but in Serbia. Artist Vanka kept on painting, after the War became a professor of painting at Zagreb's Academy. In 1926 he met Margaret Stetten, the attractive daughter of Surgeon DeWitt Stetten of Manhattan's Lenox Hill Hospital, five years later married her.
Although he became famed as Yugoslavia's finest portrait painter, what Artist Vanka calls "the ironic title of Professor" irked him. Abetted by his wife and by No. i U. S. Yugoslav Louis Adamic (The Native's Return)* he came to the U. S. in 1934, gave exhibitions in Pittsburgh and Manhattan (TIME, Dec. 3, 1934).
Last November he returned to Pittsburgh for good. Last spring when able Franciscan Father Zagar, having paid off more than half of his $98,000 mortgage, decided to beautify his yellow brick Romanesque church for God's greater pleasure and that of his congregation, he got in touch with Artist Vanka through Author Adamic ("Adamich" to Yugoslavs). In two weeks Vanka looked over the church, finished his sketches, watched the scaffolding go up and began to paint.
Every morning at 7 a. m. he started off by pounding his colors. The murals were done in dry fresco, and because paint had to be applied while the walls were wet, Artist Vanka stayed on his scaffolding virtually all day and usually until 2 or 3 a. m. At night Father Zagar stayed with him, droning prayers.
Over the domed altar he painted a 36-ft. Madonna & Child in rich reds and blues, violet and silver, on one side wall a scene of Croatian peasants kneeling at the Angelus, on the other Croatian miners in the U. S. standing with heads bowed while a Franciscan priest, posed by St. Nicholas' pastor, kneels to invoke God's blessing on their church. For the side altars Vanka painted a Crucifixion and Pieta in cold blues and black, with green lightning. His model for the figure of Christ was a strapping black American Steel mill worker.
It was well toward the end of May before the final murals complementing these on the back walls took shape and made the women on their way out after mass stop and weep and burn candles.
Opposite his picture of the Virgin grieving over the dead body of Christ, Artist Vanka had composed a group of women in Croatia standing beside a shallow coffin in which lies a dead soldier.
They are all in white with white headdresses and the bier is covered with delicate, almost transparent white linen. Rows of white crosses converge toward a hill crowned with a church set against a little pile of distant cumulus clouds. For a modern counterpart of this scene St. Nicholas parishioners can look on the other wall, opposite the Crucifixion. Under a black, apocalyptic sky, a young miner lies on ground covered with coal rubble. Weeping women in violet robes at his head and feet avert their eyes as a group of men with picks descend into a smoky middle background. A headline of the Croatian newspaper on which the dead miner is sprawled reads: "The Immigrant Mother Raises Her Sons for American Industry."

Diego Rivera and Maxo Vanka Vanka died in 1963 in Mexico and there are some similarities in their work, particularly in their use of bold colors and their interest in social and political themes.
Both Vanka and Rivera were born in the late 19th century and trained in European art academies. They both immigrated to the United States in the early 20th century and became involved in the Mexican Muralist Movement. The Mexican Muralist Movement was a group of artists who used large-scale murals to depict social and political themes. Vanka and Rivera were both important figures in the Mexican Muralist Movement, and their work helped to shape the movement's style and ideology.
Vanka's work is often described as expressionist, while Rivera's work is often described as social realist. Expressionism is a style of art that emphasizes emotion and subjective experience. Social realism is a style of art that depicts social and political realities in a realistic manner. Although Vanka and Rivera worked in different styles, their work was both influenced by their experiences as immigrants and their commitment to social justice.
Vanka's work is often celebrated for its vibrant colors and its bold, expressive style. His murals at St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church in Millvale, Pennsylvania, are particularly notable for their depiction of Croatian history, culture, and religion. Rivera's work is often celebrated for its monumental scale and its political and social commentary. His murals at the Palacio Nacional in Mexico City are particularly notable for their depiction of Mexican history and culture.
Both Vanka and Rivera were important and influential artists who helped to shape the course of modern art. Their work continues to be admired and studied today.


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