A famed street artist has left his mark on Cincinnati's oldest bar. Vhils, the tag name of Portuguese graffiti artist Alexandre Farto, was at Arnold's Bar & Grill on Cincinnati's E. 8th Street Friday. The artist, renowned for his technique of removing the surface layers of urban walls to create portraits and imagery, is in town for the opening of his namesake exhibit at the Contemporary Arts Center. Vhils left behind a stunning mural in the likeness of Cincinnati legend Peanut Jim Shelton. The mural was crafted on the brick wall of the bar's outdoor patio area, showing Peanut Jim in his typical suit-coat and top hat. Peanut Jim, for those that are unfamiliar, is a Cincinnati icon, of sorts. He was a longtime peanut vendor who stood outside of the turnstiles at Crosley Field. He began in the 1930s, and followed the Reds to their new home at Riverfront Stadium in the 1970s. He wore a top hat, tie and tails, and sung a tune to sell his product. The Peanut Jim mural is the third work by an acclaimed artist at Arnold's. JR and Shepard Fairey have also left their mark at the bar in the past."Oddly, somehow, Cincinnati's oldest bar has become a world class destination for street art," said Chris Breeden with Arnold's. The bar's "collection of street art ... can rival almost anywhere in the world."Arnold's has been open since 1861 and is considered the oldest bar in Cincinnati.

A famed street artist has left his mark on Cincinnati's oldest bar.

Vhils, the tag name of Portuguese graffiti artist Alexandre Farto, was at Arnold's Bar & Grill on Cincinnati's E. 8th Street Friday.


The artist, renowned for his technique of removing the surface layers of urban walls to create portraits and imagery, is in town for the opening of his namesake exhibit at the Contemporary Arts Center.

Vhils left behind a stunning mural in the likeness of Cincinnati legend Peanut Jim Shelton. The mural was crafted on the brick wall of the bar's outdoor patio area, showing Peanut Jim in his typical suit-coat and top hat.

Peanut Jim, for those that are unfamiliar, is a Cincinnati icon, of sorts. He was a longtime peanut vendor who stood outside of the turnstiles at Crosley Field. He began in the 1930s, and followed the Reds to their new home at Riverfront Stadium in the 1970s. He wore a top hat, tie and tails, and sung a tune to sell his product.

The Peanut Jim mural is the third work by an acclaimed artist at Arnold's. JR and Shepard Fairey have also left their mark at the bar in the past.

"Oddly, somehow, Cincinnati's oldest bar has become a world class destination for street art," said Chris Breeden with Arnold's. The bar's "collection of street art ... can rival almost anywhere in the world."

Arnold's has been open since 1861 and is considered the oldest bar in Cincinnati.