COLUMBUS, Ohio —  A local attorney and muralist spent nearly two years painting panels to symbolize women empowerment in the Ohio Supreme Court. 

Nils Johnson is a practicing lawyer and also a very talented artist. A few years ago, he was touring the Ohio Judicial Center and noticed there was no female representation. Johnson felt inspired to make a change and bring light to the women who serve in politics. 

What You Need To Know

  • Nils Johnson is a practicing lawyer and also a very talented artist

  • He spent nearly 500 hours painting

  • Johnson was inspired after touring the Judicial Center
  • The panels have been framed but are not on display yet 

"I raised my hand, and I said, you know, the art here is tremendous, but it's all white men and we ought to expand the narrative," Johnson said. 

Johnson volunteered to create the artwork, which he has titled "Century of Women and the Law," as a way to expand the narrative of the existing artwork, which primarily features white men. The artwork consists of three panels, each depicting a different aspect of women's contributions to the legal system.

The first panel portrays women protesting for their rights in the 1900s and features a scene of women demonstrating in front of the Mahoning County Courthouse. AThe second panel captures the excitement and celebration of the passage of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote, and includes images of women in a touring car celebrating this significant milestone. The third panel showcases all the women serving in the courts today, including judges and lawyers.

Creating the artwork was a time-consuming process for Johnson, who estimates that it took him around 500 hours to complete the three panels. He used archival photos and carefully planned lighting to ensure that the images were accurately and beautifully depicted.

The news of the murals has been welcomed by Jen Miller, the executive director of the League of Women Voters. 

Miller sees the artwork as a valuable opportunity to inspire the next generation of civic leaders, saying, "We want young people to see themselves in that public art and say, 'Oh, I could be a judge, too. I could be a lawyer, too. I could run for office.' And I think that's what's most important is that it can inspire the next generation of civic leaders."

The murals are expected to be on display at the judicial center next year and will be custom framed to ensure their preservation. It is hoped that the artwork will serve as a powerful reminder of the significant contributions that women have made and continue to make to the legal system.