Endless's Cortina Mural Removed After Alpine Ski Championships

A mural by British street artist Endless, titled "Powder to the People," has been removed in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. The work was commissioned by E-Distribuzione for the Alpine Ski World Championships as part of an urban renewal project, with patronage from the Municipality of Cortina d'Ampezzo and support from Fondazione 2021. Located in the town center, the mural was inspired by a glossy magazine cover featuring a skier. In a press release, the removal was described as an "incomprehensible cultural vandalism" and criticized local administrations for failing to protect and value street art, noting the irony that just months earlier, the Uffizi Galleries in Florence had permanently acquired another work by Endless—a mixed-media self-portrait with Gilbert & George. Endless, based in London, began his career painting city walls as canvases and addresses themes of advertising, consumerism, and celebrity culture. He has collaborated with brands like Karl Lagerfeld, Clarks, and Fiorucci, and his works are held by Cris Contini Contemporary in London and Porto Montenegro, as well as international collectors.