Familiar artist brings King's message to Steubenville mural
Oct 12, 2026
STEUBENVILLE — A familiar artist is leaving another mark on Steubenville, this time transforming a wall along Martin Luther King Boulevard into a tribute to the civil rights leader whose name the street bears.
Pittsburgh muralist Kyle Holbrook, who restored the city's now-demolished Tuskegee Airmen mural in 2025, has returned to Steubenville for a new project honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
The artwork, located on the wall of American Legion Post 274 along North Seventh Street, is part of a broader neighborhood beautification effort organized by the Steubenville Martin Luther King Jr. Association.
The mural features King's likeness and a message that association members believe remains relevant today: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
The project is supported by a $15,000 grant from the Pugliese Foundation, which is helping fund public art and the development of green spaces in the community.
Holbrook's involvement brings a familiar connection to Steubenville's public art history.
In 2025, he restored the Tuskegee Airmen mural at 421 Washington St., originally painted in 2019 by the late Claude “Rusty” Baker. The artwork honored Steubenville brothers John “Ellis” Edwards and Jerome Edwards, who served with the famed Black military aviation unit during World War II.
Holbrook completed the restoration in August 2025, but the mural was lost a year later when the building was demolished.
The College of St. Joseph the Worker, which owned the building, cited deteriorating structural conditions and public safety concerns as reasons for the demolition. The loss of the artwork drew attention to the challenges of preserving public art on aging buildings.
Holbrook's other work in Steubenville includes a mural depicting the Lewis and Clark expedition and a previous tribute to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. at the city's MLK Recreation Center.
His latest project continues his work combining public art, historical recognition and community involvement.
On Oct. 3, residents were invited to contribute to the new King mural during a Community Paint Day organized by the Steubenville Martin Luther King Jr. Association and The Outlet Unplugged.
The event, held near the Little Snack Shack at 301 N. Seventh St., brought together young people, families and other community members for an opportunity to paint alongside Holbrook.
Community participation is central to the approach Holbrook has developed through Moving Lives of Kids, an arts organization he founded in 2002.
The initiative uses mural painting to engage young people in creative projects while encouraging education, cooperation and neighborhood pride. Participants contribute to the early stages of a mural, allowing their work to become part of the completed artwork.
Over more than two decades, the program has involved thousands of young people and artists in public art projects across the United States and internationally.
For the Steubenville Martin Luther King Jr. Association, the project represents an opportunity to improve the appearance of the neighborhood while recognizing the legacy of the civil rights leader.
Association President Jim Baber has emphasized the organization's commitment to beautifying the community and creating spaces residents can take pride in.
The mural also adds to Steubenville's longstanding identity as the City of Murals, where public artwork has been used to recognize prominent figures, commemorate historical events and celebrate the community's heritage.
Along North Seventh Street, the newest addition places King's image and words in a neighborhood that carries his name.
Pittsburgh muralist Kyle Holbrook, who restored the city's now-demolished Tuskegee Airmen mural in 2025, has returned to Steubenville for a new project honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
The artwork, located on the wall of American Legion Post 274 along North Seventh Street, is part of a broader neighborhood beautification effort organized by the Steubenville Martin Luther King Jr. Association.
The mural features King's likeness and a message that association members believe remains relevant today: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
The project is supported by a $15,000 grant from the Pugliese Foundation, which is helping fund public art and the development of green spaces in the community.
Holbrook's involvement brings a familiar connection to Steubenville's public art history.
In 2025, he restored the Tuskegee Airmen mural at 421 Washington St., originally painted in 2019 by the late Claude “Rusty” Baker. The artwork honored Steubenville brothers John “Ellis” Edwards and Jerome Edwards, who served with the famed Black military aviation unit during World War II.
Holbrook completed the restoration in August 2025, but the mural was lost a year later when the building was demolished.
The College of St. Joseph the Worker, which owned the building, cited deteriorating structural conditions and public safety concerns as reasons for the demolition. The loss of the artwork drew attention to the challenges of preserving public art on aging buildings.
Holbrook's other work in Steubenville includes a mural depicting the Lewis and Clark expedition and a previous tribute to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. at the city's MLK Recreation Center.
His latest project continues his work combining public art, historical recognition and community involvement.
On Oct. 3, residents were invited to contribute to the new King mural during a Community Paint Day organized by the Steubenville Martin Luther King Jr. Association and The Outlet Unplugged.
The event, held near the Little Snack Shack at 301 N. Seventh St., brought together young people, families and other community members for an opportunity to paint alongside Holbrook.
Community participation is central to the approach Holbrook has developed through Moving Lives of Kids, an arts organization he founded in 2002.
The initiative uses mural painting to engage young people in creative projects while encouraging education, cooperation and neighborhood pride. Participants contribute to the early stages of a mural, allowing their work to become part of the completed artwork.
Over more than two decades, the program has involved thousands of young people and artists in public art projects across the United States and internationally.
For the Steubenville Martin Luther King Jr. Association, the project represents an opportunity to improve the appearance of the neighborhood while recognizing the legacy of the civil rights leader.
Association President Jim Baber has emphasized the organization's commitment to beautifying the community and creating spaces residents can take pride in.
The mural also adds to Steubenville's longstanding identity as the City of Murals, where public artwork has been used to recognize prominent figures, commemorate historical events and celebrate the community's heritage.
Along North Seventh Street, the newest addition places King's image and words in a neighborhood that carries his name.
