The “Pittsburgh Walk of Fame” was officially unveiled today with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Strip District Terminal building, marking the installation of its first ten bronze stars along Smallman Street. The event drew a sizable crowd and featured appearances by actor Michael Keaton, two of Roberto Clemente’s sons, Mario R. Rossero, Director of The Andy Warhol Museum, and Donald Warhola, nephew of artist Andy Warhol, among others.
The Walk of Fame honors individuals with ties to the Pittsburgh region whose impact has extended nationally and globally. The inaugural class includes George Benson, Nellie Bly, Andrew Carnegie, Rachel Carson, Roberto Clemente, Michael Keaton, Fred Rogers, Jonas Salk, Andy Warhol, and August Wilson.
Each honoree is recognized with a bronze star embedded in the sidewalk, modeled in the style of similar landmarks in cities like Hollywood and Nashville. The Walk of Fame is intended as a permanent and growing installation, with new inductees to be added annually.
Keaton, a Western Pennsylvania native known for his starring roles in Batman, Birdman, and Beetlejuice, spoke at the event, reflecting on his Pittsburgh roots and expressing gratitude for the honor.
“This city is part of who I am,” Keaton said. “I’m proud to be recognized alongside such an extraordinary group.”
Mario Rossero, Director of The Andy Warhol Museum, highlighted Warhol’s influence not just in art, but in shaping modern ideas of celebrity, media, and identity.
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“Andy Warhol was a boudary pushing, experimental, queer, collabortive, amazing artist. He is more relavent today than ever.”
Donald Warhola, representing the Warhol family, also addressed the crowd.
“I believe my Uncle would be so proud,” Donald said. “He wanted to create art that blurred the lines between high art and low art and create art that everyone could appreciate and enjoy.”
The Walk of Fame is the result of a public nomination process followed by a selection committee of over 100 contributors, including QBurgh. Final selections were made by the Walk of Fame board.
Organizers say the project aims to be an evolving monument that reflects the diversity of the region’s influence, spanning industries such as science, journalism, sports, entertainment, and the arts.
For Pittsburgh’s creative and LGBTQ+ communities, Warhol’s inclusion carries particular resonance. A native of Oakland and graduate of Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie Mellon University), Warhol’s legacy includes his work in pop art and his role in cultivating a queer creative ecosystem at The Factory in New York. His museum on the North Shore remains the largest in the world dedicated to a single artist.
The Walk of Fame is now open to the public and can be visited along Smallman Street in front of the Terminal building. Additional honorees are expected to be inducted on a rolling basis, and public nominations will continue to play a role in future classes.
