Homestead Works Steel Mill early 1900s Homestead, PA

Built in the late 1800s, the Homestead Works steel mill complex, part of Carnegie Steel Company, was located in Homestead, PA on the Mon River before the collapse of the American steel industry in the mid-1980s. If you have lived in Pittsburgh or just visited, the site is now the Waterfront shopping area. Some remnants are still there amidst the shops, restaurants, and movie theaters. A row of the iconic original brick smokestacks were thankfully preserved. 

Painting the mills is a labor of deep appreciation for the legacy of generations of workers and their families. Architecture is such a strong part of any community, connecting day-to-day life and a sense of identity. These massive complexes of the Industrial Revolution played a major role in our country's development, and you simply can't be in Pittsburgh without being touched by that legacy. 

The buildings and blast furnaces looked sculptural with how the natural light outside flows over their shapes, and the glow from inside illuminates the intense energy involved in creating something from nothing. The entire process connects and flows throughout the complex with constant movement. 

My goal was to create a sense of being there, witnessing and appreciating that process and energy, rather than a photographic representation.

Here I used a 1907 antique photo, courtesy of the Library of Congress, as a reference source. 

This oil painting on linen is 24" H x 24" W x 1.5" D, unframed with the sides painted black to suit any décor. There is a wire hanger on the back, and it is ready to display. 

* The painting can now be safely shipped. If you are in the Pittsburgh area, I would be glad to personally deliver it to you. 

Prints that are either framed or unframed are available here too for a more affordable option and are perfect for gift-giving!