After 30 years of shaping Cincinnati’s creative identity, on June 1st ArtWorks announced its official rebrand to 1001 Colors (pronounced One Thousand and One Colors), marking a bold new chapter for one of the nation’s leading public art and creative workforce organizations.
The shift opens the door to a story that can be told from many angles; a legacy Arts institution redefining itself for national growth, a youth workforce model scaling impact, a city continuing its cultural rise, and a rediscovered piece of history inspiring what comes next.
This transformation reflects a pivotal moment for the organization as it expands its reach, sharpens its mission, and steps into a future defined by greater opportunity for artists, young people, and communities. While ArtWorks built a powerful legacy in Cincinnati, the name had become widely used across the country, limiting the organization’s ability to grow, differentiate, and fully claim its identity on a larger stage.
Colleen Houston, CEO + Artistic Director of 1001 Colors, shared the vision behind the new identity, “We chose the name 1001 Colors because it gives us a name that is truly our own, distinct, memorable, and positions us to stand out both locally and nationally. It’s a powerful expression of who we are today and a forward-looking decision that reflects the scale of our ambition and our belief that creativity opens pathways for every young person, every artist, and every community we serve. 1001 Colors reflects a spectrum of ideas, voices, and possibilities of our creative community and our potential”
The new identity was unveiled at the organization’s sold out 30th Anniversary ArtDinner, where more than 300 of Cincinnati’s civic, corporate, and creative leaders gathered to celebrate the past, and step into the future.
At the same moment, 1001Colors.org was launched as the organization’s new digital home, bringing its expanded vision to life through a vibrant, immersive platform that reflects the scale, energy, and impact of the work.
A Name Revealed by History, Built for the Future
The name 1001 Colors was not imagined, it was discovered.
During renovations of the organization’s permanent creative campus, a hidden hand painted sign reading “1000 & 1 Colors” was uncovered beneath the building’s facade, a remnant from the former Bolce Paint Company dating back to 1909.
Inside, pastel painted ceiling beams were discovered, hidden for decades under drop ceilings, further revealing a legacy of color, creativity, and possibility. That notion of 1001 Colors became the inspiration for every creative and aesthetic decision during the building’s renovation and design process. The name had staying power.
What began as a historic discovery quickly became a defining idea; creativity has no limit, and neither does the potential of the people behind it.
Sharpened Mission, Greater Scale, A New Era in Motion
1001 Colors is the new legal name of the organization formerly known as ArtWorks. While the organization’s name has changed, the mission remains, to produce world class public art and creative projects that employ and develop youth, strengthen communities, and support artists at every stage.
Over three decades, the organization has evolved from a summer employment program for teens in the arts, to a leading public art and creative workforce organization in the nation. Our work has transformed Cincinnati into a nationally recognized hub for public art, producing over 400 murals and more than 14,000 creative projects while employing over 8,000 artists and young people.
The rebrand launched today in tandem with the start of the 2026 Summer Youth Apprentice Program, employing more than 100 young people ages 14–21 across Greater Cincinnati in paid creative jobs and over a dozen teaching artists serving as mentors and role models, facilitating large scale community projects.
This summer, apprentices will work across a mix of large scale murals, design, film, and community based projects, collaborating with professional artists to produce world class art. Projects includes a new Cincinnati Public Radio mural on their new building in Evanston, alongside a culturally significant initiative statewide: the America 250 Tuskegee Airmen mural series, which will be installed in Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Toledo.
Together, they will help shape the next chapter of the city’s visual and cultural identity, learning, earning, and contributing to their communities while building real pathways into creative careers.
Voices of Impact
“For 30 years, this organization has shaped Cincinnati in ways both visible and deeply personal,” said Roxanne Qualls, former Cincinnati Mayor and 1001 Colors co-founder.
“Without ArtWorks, now 1001 Colors, Cincinnati would be a little less than what it is, in terms of public art, how people feel about their community, and the ability of young people to find pathways into the arts.”
“At its core, it’s about the kids, and in doing that, they strengthen the community.”
For artists, the impact is equally transformative.
Trey Small, former Youth Apprentice and now professional artist, said, “It wasn’t just about art. It was about being part of a community of artists across the board that I was learning so much from.”
“Being paid for my creative work helped me realize my worth, not just as an artist, but in a real, tangible way. It pushed me to take myself and my craft seriously.”
“Without 1001 Colors, my life would look a lot different.”
The impact extends across generations of artists who have shaped Cincinnati’s creative landscape.
Pam Kravetz, renowned artist and 1001 Colors board member, shared, “ArtWorks has helped make me the person and the artist that I am today. I could not have had these opportunities any other way.”
“The things I’ve learned through working with youth apprentices, motivating people, and celebrating people in such a big, inclusive way, that came from ArtWorks. I’m honored that I’ve been able to use my voice and my art in such a big way because of the community it created.”
A City Transformed, A Future Expanding
Since its founding, the organization has fundamentally reshaped how Cincinnati sees itself, turning walls into canvases, neighborhoods into galleries, and opportunity into reality.
Former Cincinnati Mayor and founder of the ArtWorks mural program, Mark Mallory reflected on that impact, “The murals in Cincinnati are a visual representation of the creativity of this area… that visual impact is something that will never go away.”
Photos courtesy of 1001 Colors.
Discover more from Livingmagazines.com
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Leave a Reply