26 Powerful George Floyd Murals Seen Around the World
Updated: Dec. 09, 2022These amazing murals of George Floyd honor him and encourage action in the face of police brutality, racism, and generational pain.
To honor the life and mourn the loss of George Floyd, many artists and activists alike have taken to art to express the immense grief and anger felt throughout their communities and the world. His death sent shockwaves throughout the world, and was a catalyst for many people’s deeper realization of the realities of police brutality and racism, both in the United States and abroad. Many unexpected places began protesting and joined the fight, and more murals are being created on walls the world over to memorialize George Floyd and ensure that the Black Lives Matter movement, which was taken up by many more people after Floyd’s tragic death, remains in the public consciousness.
On Tuesday, April 20, 2021, the jury in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who was accused of killing George Floyd, found him guilty on all three counts faced: Second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. Chauvin will be sentenced in the coming weeks.
Members and allies of the Black community were relieved that some measure of justice has been achieved for George Floyd. However, it is clear that there is still much work to be done. These large works of protest art promote solidarity, remembrance, and commitment to the causes of equality, justice, and the Black Lives Matter movement. Learn what anti-racism means and what it means to be anti-racist.
Houston, Texas
A man kneels in front of a memorial and mural of George Floyd on the wall of a corner store, near where Floyd grew up in Houston. At the top of the mural, the writing states “forever breathing in our hearts.”
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Louisville, Kentucky
This mural on 11th Street in Louisville shows the faces of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, David McAtee, and Sandra Bland, all of whom were either fatally shot by police or died in police custody. The text reads “Say Their Names,” a powerful phrase building off the #SayHerName movement started by the African American Policy Forum after the death of Sandra Bland in 2015. The movement strives to address the erasure of Black individuals killed by police brutality, as well as memorializing the victims.
Los Angeles, California
A colorful mural by Tans is painted on a boarded-up tattoo shop. The words around George Floyd’s face represent many of the things chanted at the protests that took place around the world.
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Naples, Italy
Reminiscent of religious artwork of Jesus and the Virgin Mary weeping blood, this powerful mural by street artist Jorit Agoch also depicts other important cultural and revolutionary figures, as befits its statement of “Time to change the world.” From left to right: Vladimir Lenin, Martin Luther King, George Floyd, Malcolm X, and Angela Davis.
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Houston, Texas
A heart was painted on the ground in front of this mural on a wall just a few miles from where George Floyd grew up, in Houston’s Third Ward.
Portland, Oregon
As protests continue on in Portland, many buildings are covered by murals. This one showcases George Floyd as well as Black Lives Matter graffiti.
Gaza City, Palestine
In turbulent Gaza City, Palestinian artist Ayman al-Housari painted this mural of George Floyd. The Black Lives Matter movement, which started in 2013 by three Black women, was boosted once more into the public and global consciousness with the tragic death of Floyd. Displaced and marginalized communities the world over have expressed solidarity with the movement.
Brooklyn, New York
Many people attended the unveiling of this mural in Brooklyn by artist Kenny Altidor, including George Floyd’s brother.
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Houston, Texas
A mural in Floyd’s hometown of Houston depicts Floyd wearing a mask patterned with the American flag, surrounded by protesters, with the words, “I can’t breathe.”
Toronto, Ontario
Artist Paul Glyn-Williams finishes work on a mural in Toronto, Ontario, with Floyd’s mouth covered and the words, “I can’t breathe.”
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Manhattan, New York
This mural on a Manhattan street memorializes George Floyd and expresses New York City’s support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
Miami, Florida
A mural depicts the faces of Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Colin Kaepernick in the Overtown neighborhood of Miami, Florida.
Berlin, Germany
A mural by Dominican artist Jesus Cruz Artiles, known as EME Freethinker, along a wall in Mauer Park in Berlin, Germany.
Portland, Oregon
This large mural, covering the boarded-up Apple store in Portland, commemorates many Black people killed by police in Portland and elsewhere, including George Floyd. The words “I can’t breathe” are a direct quote from both Floyd and Eric Garner, who died in a prohibited police chokehold in 2014.
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Idlib, Syria
Artist Aziz Asmar paints a mural on a wall standing amongst rubble in Idlib, Syria, with the face of Floyd.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
This mural is at the intersection of 38th St & Chicago Ave in Minneapolis, which has become known as George Floyd Square after his death there outside the Cup Foods in May of 2020. The intersection has been closed to all but pedestrian traffic, occupied as a place of protest and memorialization since that tragic event. Recently, Minneapolis city officials renamed a two-block stretch of Chicago Avenue as George Perry Floyd Jr. Place.
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Nairobi, Kenya
Mural by artists Allan Mwangi (Mr. Detail Seven) and Brian Esendi (Bankslave) in Nairobi, Kenya, in the middle of a neighborhood.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
The mural and memorial in Minneapolis near where Floyd was murdered. The mural lists the names of other Black lives lost to police brutality and reiterates the importance of “saying our names.”
NEXT: Positive Changes We’ve Already Seen Since the Anti-Racism Protests Began