A Liverpool mural was defaced in the middle of the night by a balaclava-wearing vandal, according to the man who created it. The artwork, on the side of the Baltic Creative building on Jamaica Street at the corner of Jordan Street in the Baltic Triangle, was created by Liverpool artist Paul Curtis in 2023 and celebrates Liverpool poet and Citizen of Honour Levi Tafari.
The mural was vandalised in the early hours of Saturday, September 26, with black paint sprayed over Levi’s mouth and name. Paul took to social media in a video to share his disappointment at the act and to ask anyone who may have information to come forward.
Artist calls for information
In his video, Paul said: "Well, I don’t normally like posting anything that’s negative, but I feel I have to about this one. Someone’s vandalised the Levi Tafari mural sprayed black paint over his mouth and his name."
"Police have been informed. They’re reviewing CCTV footage. The person who did it came here at four in the morning and was wearing a balaclava, so it was premeditated and no doubt racially aggravated, and obviously, I’m really disappointed about that."
Positivity conquers hate
Paul also spoke of his love for Liverpool, describing it as a special and unique city, culturally influenced by the world through its port, from the Irish to black American music, giving the city the Beatles. He noted that Levi is a proud scouser who loves the city and is one of the most positive people you’ll ever meet, promoting arts and culture within Liverpool and beyond.
He asked anyone with information to message him privately, saying he would spend his Saturday fixing the mural and hoped to restore it to what it was. A few hours after his initial post, Paul shared an updated photograph of the mural showing it had been fixed, with the caption: "Fixed Levi! Back to his effervescent best! Let positivity conquer hate."
