{Flying Pig}

The Flying Pig of Cincinnati emerged as a prominent civic mascot in the late 1980s, primarily born from the city's historical association with the pork packing industry. Following the completion of the Bicentennial Commons at Sawyer Point in 1988, a series of pig sculptures—most notably the winged variety—were commissioned to playfully reclaim the city's nineteenth-century moniker, 'Porkopolis,' transforming a perceived slight into a whimsical symbol of civic pride and unexpected ambition.

Designed to embody the spirit of the impossible becoming reality, these sculptures were heavily influenced by the public art initiatives of the era aimed at revitalizing Cincinnati’s riverfront. The winged pig motif, often attributed to local artists and civic planners who sought to soften the industrial image of the city, was met with widespread public affection, quickly evolving from a festival mascot into a beloved emblem that continues to be featured in everything from city marathons to local craft and merchandise.