New painting commissioned for the Statehouse to honor Ohioans contributions to space

A new painting for the Ohio Statehouse has been commissioned, honoring four Ohioan’s contributions to space exploration, The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB) and the Capitol Square Foundation announced Wednesday.

Bill Hinsch, an artist from Perrysburg, has been chosen as the painter, for the painting that will hang in the Ohio Statehouse Rotunda. Hinsch has painted portraits that have hung in The National Museum of the United States Air Force and the Pentagon.

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The painting is the first major one commissioned for Rotunda since 1957.

“This artist’s vision of honoring Ohioans who have gone above and beyond exceeded the hopes of the committee. This commissioned artwork, the first in 66 years, will be a fitting addition to the historic Ohio Statehouse – a celebration of four Ohioans’ remarkable firsts in space exploration,” said Charles Moses, Capitol Square Foundation chair.

The painting will feature astronauts John Glenn, Neil Armstrong, Jim Lovell, and Judith Resnik. Engineers and scientists will also be presented in the painting through the work of Flight Director Gene Kranz, along with spacecraft, the moon, and the earth.

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“The painting will honor Ohioans in space. Ohioans have achieved many firsts in flight and in space exploration. Twenty-five NASA astronauts were born in our state, and many Ohioans have advanced space technology in supporting roles,” a spokesperson said.

The nine-foot by twelve-foot painting is scheduled to be unveiled in 2024 and will be funded by private donations.