By Sean P. Ray | Managing Editor

*Editor’s note: For sake of transparency, the artist mentioned in this article, Laura Jean McLaughlin, is related to The Chronicle’s Managing Editor, Sean P. Ray.

In commemoration of its 30th anniversary, The Andy Warhol Museum unveiled a new porcelain tile mural adorning the exterior of the museum facing Vulcan Way in a ribbon cutting ceremony on May 19.

The mural, titled “Julia,” was created by Pittsburgh artist Laura Jean McLaughlin, and is a tribute to Julia Warhola, the mother of Andy Warhol, and is made up of 1,350 hand-carved porcelain tiles. The art piece references many parts of Warhola’s life, including her love of Carpatho-Rusyn Easter Eggs called Pysanky eggs, her strong religiosity and her adoration of cats.

Patrick Moore, director of The Andy Warhol Museum, called Warhola the “most important person in Andy Warhol’s life.”

McLaughlin told The Chronicle that she also included a different kind of Easter egg in the mural itself. One of the tiles in the mural was purposefully placed upside down, and she challenged viewers to try and find which one.

McLaughlin called it “truly an honor” to work on the piece, saying she enjoyed learning more about Warhola and how she influenced her son.

The ribbon cutting was part of a wider Community Day celebration at the museum, with many activities offered to members of the public, including screen printing and spray painting. Admission to the museum was also free for the day.