A new Covington mural honours Terry Noel, a Kentucky-born trans and drag performer whose career began decades before LGBTQ+ stories were widely seen in public. Created by artist Emil Wiersma for ArtsWave Pride, the Madison Avenue artwork brings local history into view and marks a decade of the organisation’s work supporting arts and LGBTQ+ communities.

Essential Takeaways

  • A local first: ArtsWave Pride commissioned its first mural in Covington at 515 Madison Avenue. [2], [3]
  • A story from the 1950s: Noel was active as a trans and drag performer in the 1950s and 1960s, including with the touring Jewel Box Revue. [4], [5]
  • A personal title: “Every Day of Living Is a Gift” draws on Noel’s reflections in a 2006 interview. [2], [5]
  • Art with a neighbourhood role: The project connects LGBTQ+ visibility with Covington’s wider interest in public art and placemaking. [3], [6], [7]

A Covington mural brings a pioneering performer into view

The new mural turns an everyday city wall into a vivid reminder of a history that can easily be missed. On Madison Avenue in Covington, artist Emil Wiersma’s “Every Day of Living Is a Gift” honours Terry Noel, a Kentucky-born trans and drag performer active in the 1950s and 1960s. ArtsWave Pride says it’s the first mural the organisation has commissioned in Covington. [2], [3]

That choice matters. Public art doesn’t just brighten a building; it can give people a reason to pause, look closer and ask whose stories have been left out of the picture. Here, Noel’s life takes its place in the city’s shared landscape rather than remaining tucked away in archives. [3], [7]

Terry Noel’s story stretches back to the 1950s

Noel performed with the Jewel Box Revue, a touring drag show, and recalled joining it in Asbury Park, New Jersey, in spring 1959. Her career offers a glimpse of queer performance culture at a time when performers often had to navigate a far less welcoming public world. [4], [5]

The mural’s title is rooted in Noel’s own words, drawn from a 2006 interview. That personal connection gives the artwork a warmer feel than a simple memorial: it points towards a life and perspective, not just a name from the past. [2], [5]

Why this public art project matters to Covington

ArtsWave Pride’s commission also marks the 10th anniversary of its mission to bring LGBTQ+ people and allies together through the arts. The project makes that aim tangible, placing queer history in a setting where residents and visitors can encounter it in the course of an ordinary day. [2], [3]

It’s part of a broader local interest in creative placemaking. ArtsWave has supported other Covington mural projects, including “Pineapple on Pizza” at The Gruff, while regional coverage has described public art as a way to strengthen neighbourhood identity and connection. [6], [7]

How to experience the mural

The mural is at 515 Madison Avenue, on the rear of Madison Design. If you’re visiting, take a moment to look at the artwork in context and consider the history behind its title; street art often rewards a slower look. [2], [3]

ArtsWave Pride’s launch celebration was scheduled to include remarks from people involved in the project, a tour of Madison Design and a history lesson from Jacob Hogue, author of Cincinnati Before Stonewall. The planned gathering reflects the project’s wider purpose: pairing the artwork with local knowledge and conversation. [2], [3]

A lasting tribute, not just a splash of colour

Noel’s story adds an important chapter to Covington’s public spaces, while the mural gives passers-by a chance to meet that history in a direct, human way. And that’s the quiet strength of a thoughtful mural: it can make remembrance part of the daily view. [2], [3], [7]

Take the time to stop by and discover the story behind the wall.

Source Reference Map

Story idea inspired by: [1]

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