Side of an abandoned building

The Real Detective

For many years, residents of Athens County, Ohio, have wondered about the elaborate and well-executed graffiti that adorns the places where graffiti is regularly found. Signed "Real Detective" or where near tracks "Rail Detective," the artist was unknown, as was the message. Then, in late March 2016, local police said they had discovered the artist. He was, they said, 50-year-old Matthew Glass of …  (read more)

28 Mar 2016

143 visits

Side of an abandoned building

This mural is readily seen from a major U.S. highway, north of Athens, Ohio. But until recently, there was no clue as to who had painted it.

28 Mar 2016

179 visits

Visible only from the train . . .

. . . and the train no longer runs. The "real Detective" artist -- who here styled himself the "Rail Detective" -- painted the overpass supports. The work has been defaced by lesser "artists," however.

28 Mar 2016

175 visits

An alluring theme

Much of the artwork features women in suggestive poses, police, and shadowy criminals, in the style of the "true crime" magazines of the 1950s and 60s.

28 Mar 2016

122 visits

The abandoned building is decorated all over

28 Mar 2016

170 visits

This image is kind of puzzling

28 Mar 2016

163 visits

Vines and thorn bushes have grown over the pictures

28 Mar 2016

205 visits

A typical Real Detective picture

Some of them seem to have been painted elsewhere and glued to the building.

28 Mar 2016

210 visits

Inside, in the dark, was this

Good thing I had a flashlight (to those of you in Britain, a torch) to illuminate the picture

28 Mar 2016

163 visits

Deep inside the building

The "secrets" referred to in the darkened hallway, apparently.
11 items in total