From Minnesota to Syria, artists around the world are paying tribute to George Floyd with powerful murals

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Monica HumphriesJun 6, 2020, 03:10 IST
From Minnesota to Syria, artists around the world are paying tribute to George Floyd with powerful murals

A man stands in front of the George Floyd mural in Minneapolis, Minnesota.Rueters

  • As a call for justice for George Floyd spreads across the world, artists have used murals as a tool to urge action and commemorate the 46-year-old man who died on May 25.
  • From Syria to Minnesota, murals depict George Floyd as an angel and a hero.

For nearly nine minutes, George Floyd was pinned to the ground with a knee to his neck by a white Minneapolis police officer. Floyd died on May 25 in police custody.

"Please, I can't breathe" were some of his last words.

Those words have echoed around the world as people seek justice for Floyd and call for an end to police brutality.

Protesters have flooded streets with power chants and signs. Others are taking a knee. And artists are creating powerful murals and street art around the world.

Artists in Syria, Kenya, the US, and throughout the world have used their skills to commemorate Floyd. The powerful images leave a lasting impression on cities and their people.

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Five local artists painted a mural in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where Floyd died on May 25.

Five local artists painted a mural in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where Floyd died on May 25.
Names of others who have died in police custody are written behind George Floyd. Steel Brooks/Anadolu Agency/Getty Image

Outside Cup Foods in Minneapolis, Minnesota, artists Xena Goldman, Cadex Herrera, Greta McLain, Niko Alexander, and Pablo Hernandez painted a mural to commemorate Floyd.

"It's comforting and incredibly hopeful to us that the mural is being appreciated by the community," Cadex Herrera told Hyperallergic. "Our idea was to depict Floyd not as a martyr, but as a social justice hero."

Artists Aziz Asmar and Anis Hamdoun painted a mural of Floyd on ruins in Idlib, Syria.

Artists Aziz Asmar and Anis Hamdoun painted a mural of Floyd on ruins in Idlib, Syria.
Aziz Asmar and Anis Hamdoun painted the mural on the remains of a ruined house. Izzeddin Idilbi/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

The words "No to racism" are featured above Floyd's head. To the left, the artists depicted the scene where Floyd died while being arrested and pinned to the ground by the knee of a white police officer.

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A spray-painted mural was created by Theo Ponchaveli in Dallas, Texas.

A spray-painted mural was created by Theo Ponchaveli in Dallas, Texas.
Theo Ponchaveli used spray paint to create the piece. AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

Artist Theo Ponchaveli finished the mural in Dallas on Monday.

The powerful image depicts some of Floyd's last words, including a line that's been echoed across the world: "I can't breathe."

Multiple murals have been painted across Minneapolis.

Multiple murals have been painted across Minneapolis.
Two people raise their fists as they sit in front of a mural at a memorial site for George Floyd. REUTERS/Leah Millis

An artist added a mural of Floyd at the Minneapolis memorial site, which is now filled with candles and flowers.

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Street artist Akse paid tribute to Floyd through a mural located in Manchester, UK.

Street artist Akse paid tribute to Floyd through a mural located in Manchester, UK.
Quickly after the mural was finished, flowers and letters started to pile up. Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Across the UK, demonstrators and protesters have shown solidarity. Akse showed his solidarity by painting a mural of Floyd.

Originally, the mural had a black background, but the artist later decided to change it to white.

Artist Celos painted a mural in downtown Los Angeles, California.

Artist Celos painted a mural in downtown Los Angeles, California.
"I can't breathe" is painted across his mouth. APU GOMES/AFP/Getty Images)

Artist Celos paints a halo around Floyd's head while tears run down his face. Inspiring words fill the background of the mural.

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A black, red, and white mural was painted across a wall in Nantes, France.

A black, red, and white mural was painted across a wall in Nantes, France.
"RIP George Floyd" was painted in the corner of the mural. LOIC VENANCE/AFP/Getty Images

Artist Allan Mwangi, also known as Mr.detail.seven, painted this mural of Floyd in Nairobi, Kenya.

Artist Allan Mwangi, also known as Mr.detail.seven, painted this mural of Floyd in Nairobi, Kenya.
The mural was added to the wall of a building in the Kibera slums in Nairobi, Kenya. Donwilson Odhiambo/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images

The mural of Floyd includes the Swahili word "Haki," meaning "Justice."

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A colorful mural appeared on a boarded up shop in Inwood, a neighborhood in New York.

A colorful mural appeared on a boarded up shop in Inwood, a neighborhood in New York.
A halo is painted above George Floyd's head. Celia Fernandez/Insider

As protests take place across Ireland, a mural was painted on a wall in Dublin.

As protests take place across Ireland, a mural was painted on a wall in Dublin.
The black-and-white mural was painted on a white-washed wall. Niall Carson/PA Images/Getty Images
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Artist eme_freethinker painted a mural of Floyd on the graffiti-covered remains of the Berlin Wall in Germany.

Artist eme_freethinker painted a mural of Floyd on the graffiti-covered remains of the Berlin Wall in Germany.
"I can't breathe" is painted next to a portrait of George Floyd in Berlin, Germany. Omer Messinger/NurPhoto/Getty Images

Murals have also popped up commemorating Floyd, like this one in Oakland, California.

Murals have also popped up commemorating Floyd, like this one in Oakland, California.
A woman walks past the mural in Oakland, California. AP Photo/Jeff Chiu
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An artist turned Floyd into an angel in Houston, Texas.

An artist turned Floyd into an angel in Houston, Texas.
A mural of George Floyd was painted on the wall of Scott Food Mart in Houston, Texas. Sergio Flores/Getty Images

The words "Forever breathing in our hearts" are painted in the shape of a halo above Floyd's head.

Barcelona's street art now includes Floyd with angel wings and a stop sign.

Barcelona's street art now includes Floyd with angel wings and a stop sign.
A woman walks by the George Floyd artwork on a street in Barcelona, Spain. PAU BARRENA/AFP/Getty Images

Italian urban artist Salvatore Benintende, or "TVBOY," created artwork that depicts Floyd as an angel urging people to stop racism.

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