One Water through Art

Artist: Andy Clarkson
Location: 808 Dublin Rd Columbus, OH 43215

*pictures coming soon*

Welcome to “Waves of the Watershed” — a mural that celebrates the vibrant natural beauty of the Olentangy Watershed and the many ways we connect with it every day. This design highlights how deeply our daily lives intertwine with the rivers, trails, and ecosystems around us—and how Columbus Water and Power supports those experiences by working behind the scenes to keep our environment clean, safe, and accessible.

The mural invites viewers to react to the wide range of outdoor activities our watershed supports. Whether fishing, hiking, running, boating, or simply pausing to appreciate the scenery, we benefit from a city that offers so many ways to engage with nature. These moments of connection are only possible thanks to the ongoing efforts of our city’s utility teams, who make it easier for us to immerse ourselves in the natural world.

Wildlife takes center stage in the design, drawing attention to the many species that call the Olentangy Watershed home. Each animal featured in the mural represents familiar sights along the river—creatures you’re likely to encounter during a walk or paddle, going about their daily routines just as we do.

The mural’s vivid, unexpected color palette allows viewers to see nature in a new light—more playful, more alive, and more awe-inspiring than we might notice at first glance. By combining realistic imagery with stylized icons and ­at graphic elements, the artwork strikes a visual balance that feels both grounded and imaginative, refl­ecting the layered, dynamic relationship between people, nature, and the systems that sustain both.

Andy Clarkson is a Columbus-based designer and artist with 25 years of experience creating murals, signage for interactive exhibits, experiential public spaces, and large-scale props. Skilled in a wide range of styles, Andy adapts his work to reflect the character of each site. He especially values the opportunity public art provides to engage with the community and transform ordinary spaces into visually dynamic places that spark curiosity and connection. You can view more of Andy's work here.

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Artist: Nick Stull
Location: 711 Twin Rivers Drive, Columbus, OH 43215

This mural design celebrates and magnifies the all-encompassing importance of water and the multitude of roles it plays in our communities, our environment, and our shared lives as a whole. Following the US Water Alliance’s “One Water” vision and the aims and initiatives of the Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed, the elements presented in this mural describe an ecosystem where our society and our environment are inextricably intertwined through water use. This fundamental viewpoint is essential when developing a water management system that is innovative, sustainable, and equitable.

The water pump station mural design is separated into 3 vignettes for the 3 separate walls that would be painted. The north-facing wall presents a close-up view of water’s relationship to the aquatic animals of the Olentangy River, and the plants and insects nearby that rely on the positive health of the Lower Olentangy Watershed. The west-facing, central wall describes multiple ways where human activity is intertwined with the Olentangy River, and water in general, be it for recreation, from the tap, or as the cupping hands represent, the most fundamental resource that defines our very existence. The south-facing wall contextualizes the Olentangy River and Watershed within our community and the city of Columbus. A majestic Blue Heron stands in the river, its neck and head framed to reveal the Columbus skyline in the background, thus creating a direct connection between the Olentangy River’s natural elements and the urban landscape of Columbus that is close by.

The mural title “Full Circle” expresses how all of our societal and environmental pursuits lead back to one primary source: water. While each vignette expresses the impact of water in different areas, the water itself flows continuously through each scene, underscoring its connection to everything. The “full circle” concept is further conveyed on each wall with circles that serve to create a visual focal point and magnify or heighten the important aspects of the narrative being described. To use the phrase, “all the water we have is all the water we have ever had,” we know that water is the oldest and most essential contributor of life on our planet, and it is up to us to ensure that we are preserving our most vital resource for generations, ages, and eras to come.

Nick is a Columbus-based artist who grew up swimming, canoeing, and wading through local waterways, experiences that continue to inspire the wildlife imagery in his work. His public art practice is rooted in research and collaboration with communities to create site-specific works that reflect local values, history, and culture. Through his art, Nick celebrates the human connection to nature and encourages reflection on how we can preserve our environment for the future. You can view more of Nick's work here.