Allison Broome Bowen’s “Central City Relics” on 14STW
Allison Broome Bowen shared that she loved being part of something bigger than her own self, ideas, or artwork. “Creating something for the community to enjoy has been the highlight of my year,” Allison said about her latest mural, which she completed as part of the Central City Quilt Trail Reimagined Project in the summer of 2026. Allison is a local artist and educator, currently living in Huntington, WV. She shared more about her mural, “Central City Relics,” which is now on view at the West End Tattoo Club building right here in West Huntington.
Allison said she has been making art her entire life. “I grew up with full access to my father's art studio and paint supplies and always enjoyed making things,” she shared. She eventually went to art school and began her career as an artist, exhibiting work and teaching a variety of classes. Her specialties are mixed media and drawing, and she also incorporates printmaking into her work. Her work primarily focuses on memory and timelines, and on creating visual evidence of the passage of time. “I enjoy making work that is visually appealing and tactile with a variety of materials and colors,” Allison said.
Her mural, “Central City Relics,” is described as a colorful explosion of imagery directly related to the history of Central City. “I chose to include both utilitarian and decorative objects that were handcrafted from materials from the area,” Allison shared. “In addition to the objects, I also chose to include some of the street views, building structures, and means of transportation used at the time. Finally, I wanted to incorporate plant life that I've always noticed along the side of the roads in this area, such as orange lilies, Queen Anne's lace, and chicory,” she said.
Allison said that the overall design was inspired by researching barn quilt patterns at the beginning of the project. “When I came across the pattern titled 'Thistle Rose, ' I personally found it to be very appealing due to the radial symmetry and the combination of outstretched angles paired with the stable grid of the quadrants,” she said.
While she enjoyed the design stage, Allison said that working with polytab was what she enjoyed most about the project. “Being able to take smaller sections outside or spread them out on my living room floor was an interesting way to create a mural,” Allison shared. “I was fortunate to get to help a few of the other artists install their mural, and I loved being a part of something bigger than any idea or art that I've ever made,” she added. Allison became quite the lift expert and joked, saying, “I wholeheartedly enjoyed the installation process and now wish that I owned a boom lift.”
Allison said the sense of community in this project has felt heartwarming for her, and she said she is thankful to the community members who have reached out with a kind word. “Any chance to connect with another human, especially with art, is such a wonderful experience,” Allison said.
“Central City Relics” is now on display at the West End Tattoo Club building, located at 720 W. 14th Street, Huntington, WV. You can check out more of her work and her artist journey by visiting Allison’s website www.allisonbroome.com or following on Instagram @allisonbroomeart. Learn more about the Central City Quilt Trail and other artists involved with the project by visiting the project page online.
