In 1993, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announced the selection of Richard Haas as the designer for the mural that would be painted on the Ft. Duquesne facade of the Byham Theater (then known as the Fulton Theater).

The mural was painted by Evergreene Painting Studios of New York City. Richard Haas was chosen by the Trust's Public Art Advisory Committee.

Known as a trompe l'oeil, or fool of the eye, his mural depicts a theater's proscenium stage, but with a homage to Pittsburgh's history. The illusory set is the interior of a steel mill, it's furnaces pouring white-hot metal.

Integrated into the mural are the Byham Theater's doors and windows - creating a visual experience. In a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article, Mr. Haas called the mural "one of the most complicated façades I've done."

You can see his work in cities around the country or visit www.richardhaas.com.