A celebrity mural featuring the faces of notable figures and celebrities, including Kobe Bryant, Snoop Dogg, Tupac Shakur, and Vin Scully, may be removed soon. The mural’s artist, who goes by the name sloe_motions on Instagram, has received a notice from the city to take down the art. However, he’s trying to raise awareness to keep it up and has launched an online petition that has gained over 3,000 signatures.
Mural Honors LA Culture
The mural in Bellflower, located on Woodruff Avenue, honors the culture of Los Angeles, which is represented through the faces of well-known celebrities from the city. The artwork is on the side of Speedy Auto Tint, representing the city’s culture and embodying the Latino community, according to the online petition.
Petition Launched To Save Mural
An online petition has been launched to keep the mural up, which has garnered over 3,000 signatures as of Thursday, April 27. The petition states that the city of Bellflower wants the mural taken down because it’s facing a main street instead of on a wall facing a side street. It also claims that the artwork represents the city of Los Angeles, the culture it embodies, and it’s an expression of art for people to appreciate.
Artist’s Plea To Keep Mural
The artist behind the mural, Louie Palsino, also known as sloe_motions on Instagram, is attempting to raise awareness about the potential removal of the art. Palsino says his murals, which adorn walls across the city, represent the people’s beauty and culture:
“Bellflower, they don’t have many things like this, so I’m just trying to bless them with something really awesome, for the city, for people to come and appreciate.”
Celebrity & Political Support For The Mural
Boxing giant Oscar De La Hoya has chimed in to support the cause. He commented on Palsino’s Instagram post, saying, “Thank you brother for the love. I’ll make some calls.” Meanwhile, the Bellflower Mayor, Sonny R. Santa Ines, said the city doesn’t object to the mural’s contents.
Hip-Hop Icons Remembered In Art
Murals and statues honoring hip-hop icons have been popping up worldwide. These tributes pay homage to these artists’ impact on the music industry and popular culture.
In Memphis, a mural of rapper Young Dolph was painted in 2021 on the side of a building on Lamar Avenue. The mural was created by artist Toonky Berry and featured a portrait of the rapper and the words “King of Memphis.” Dolph, known for hits such as “100 Shots” and “Major,” was tragically killed in 2021.
A massive mural of rapper Pop Smoke, created by artist JPO, was unveiled in 2020 on the side of a building on Franklin Avenue in the Canarsie neighborhood of Brooklyn. The mural, featuring a portrait of Pop Smoke who was killed earlier that year, quickly became a popular spot for fellow rappers and fans to pay tribute to the rising star.
In 2021, a bronze statue of rapper Notorious B.I.G was unveiled in his hometown of Brooklyn. The statue, which stands 6 feet tall and weighs 900 pounds, was created by artist Tanda Francis and is located near the Brooklyn Bridge. The statue is a permanent tribute to the legendary rapper known for hits such as “Juicy” and “Big Poppa.”