A mural in Providence, Rhode Island, that depicted slain Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska was taken down on Tuesday. The artwork had been displayed on the side of a building housing the Dark Lady, a gay bar, but was removed after sustained calls from Providence Mayor Brett Smiley and other officials.
Controversy Over Funding
Officials were upset that the mural project had been funded by Elon Musk and Andrew Tate. Mayor Smiley stated, "The murder of the individual depicted in this mural was a devastating tragedy, but the misguided, isolating intent of those funding murals like the one across the county is concerning. I continue to encourage our community to support local artists whose work brings us closer together rather than divide us."
Musk and Tate pledged money after Intercom CEO Eoghan McCabe declared on X in September that he was "offering $500k in $10k grants to paint murals of the face of Iryna Zarutska in prominent US city locations."
Mural Removal and Artist Reaction
On Tuesday afternoon, construction crews were seen taking down the mural. It was lowered to the ground, rolled up, and taken away to be installed elsewhere. Mural artist Ian Gaudreau told WJAR-TV, "Having the mural come down is definitely a sad moment. We wanted it to have a home downtown Providence."
One resident commented, "I believe it should have stayed up. I had no problem with the mural. I thought it was beautiful." Gaudreau expressed disappointment that the artwork became politicized, saying, "I think a lot of people are not even taking the time to look at the art and think about what it might mean." A representative for Gaudreau indicated he is preparing to reinstall the mural elsewhere, though the precise location is not yet known.
Background of Iryna Zarutska
Zarutska, 23, was riding a train in Charlotte, North Carolina, when she was stabbed to death from behind on August 22. The refugee, who fled her war-torn home in 2022, bled to death as onlookers did nothing. Prosecutors identified the attacker as career criminal Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, who blamed his actions on a schizophrenic episode.
In the weeks following her death, prominent and controversial individuals offered financial backing for art pieces in her memory. Zarutska was on her way home from work at Zepeddie's pizzeria in south Charlotte when she was stabbed three times in her neck and hands. She had been on the train for less than five minutes before the attack.
Zepeddie's posted a tribute, writing: "We lost not only an incredible employee, but a true friend. Our dear Iryna left this world far too soon, and our hearts are heavy with grief." In her obituary, her family noted that she graduated from Synergy College in Kyiv with a degree in Art and Restoration, and was described as an adventurous young woman who adored animals and traveling. "She shared her creativity generously, gifting family and friends with her artwork," they said.
