STIK Liberty Mural Preserved After East Village Community Campaign
In April 2026, the building housing STIK's Liberty mural at East 9th Street and Avenue A in New York's East Village began being painted black during renovations, sparking fears the 2013 artwork would be lost. A swift international campaign by residents, artists, collectors, and supporters on social media pressured building management to protect the four-storey mural. The work, a gift to the neighborhood, honors Tompkins Square Park's radical history tied to workers' movements and protests. The repainting was adjusted to leave STIK's composition intact. The outcome demonstrates collective action's power over public art preservation in urban spaces.
Key facts
- STIK's Liberty mural was painted in September 2013 at East 9th Street and Avenue A, East Village, New York.
- The four-storey mural honors the social history of Tompkins Square Park, associated with workers' movements and protests since 1874.
- In April 2026, building renovations began painting the structure black, threatening the mural.
- A local and international campaign emerged via social media to save the artwork.
- Building management confirmed the mural would be preserved and repainting adjusted.
- The mural's signature figure features a raised arm as a gesture of solidarity.
- The outcome is described as a rare moment where collective action influenced a public artwork's fate.
- Images of the preserved mural were captured by NYC-based photographer Just-a-spectator for GraffitiStreet News.
Entities
Artists
- STIK
Institutions
- GraffitiStreet
- Just-a-spectator
Locations
- New York
- East Village
- East 9th Street
- Avenue A
- Tompkins Square Park
- United States