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What it takes to clean industrial soot and grime from a Pittsburgh church's murals

In 2025, a conservation team led by wall paintings expert Naomi Ruiz carried out restoration work on murals at a Croatian Catholic church located close to Pittsburgh.
The project followed the need to address deterioration caused by natural sulfate salts and pollution, with prior roof and climate control upgrades helping to prevent further damage.
The church’s walls and ceiling feature a renowned series of murals created by Maxo Vanka, an artist of Croatian American heritage, painted during the years 1937 and 1941. Preservation efforts have been ongoing for the past 15 years, with conservation work carried out section by section, utilizing scaffolding to allow close-up access.
Ruiz highlighted the preference for the term 'conservation' rather than 'restoration,' as it encompasses thorough documentation, preventive measures, and efforts to highlight Vanka's contributions by clearly showcasing his work.
This ongoing conservation effort, featuring a 16-person crew working intensively over three years, aims to preserve the murals' original sheen and tone while preventing future damage.

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