Mural Commemorating Slain Ukrainian Refugee Removed

In Providence, Rhode Island, a mural honoring Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee who was tragically killed, has recently been removed. This artwork was prominently displayed on the exterior of a building that houses the Dark Lady, a well-known gay bar in the area.

The decision to take down the mural came after continuous appeals from Providence Mayor Brett Smiley and other city officials. Their discontent stemmed from the fact that the mural was financially backed by controversial figures Elon Musk and Andrew Tate.

Mayor Smiley expressed his concerns, acknowledging the tragedy of Zarutska’s death but criticizing the divisive nature of the mural’s sponsorship. “While the murder of the individual depicted in this mural was a devastating tragedy, the misguided, isolating intent of those funding murals like this one across the country is concerning. I continue to encourage our community to support local artists whose work brings us closer together rather than divide us,” Smiley stated.

The initiative to fund such murals was sparked when Intercom CEO Eoghan McCabe announced on the social media platform X in September that he was offering $500,000 in $10,000 grants for murals depicting Zarutska’s face in prominent U.S. cities. Musk and Tate pledged their support following this announcement.

Musk and Tate pledged to commit money after Intercom CEO Eoghan McCabe declared on X in September that he was ‘offering $500k in $10k grants to paint murals of the face of Iryna Zarutska in prominent US city locations.’

On Tuesday afternoon, construction crews were seen taking down the mural. It was then lowered to the ground, rolled up and taken away to be put up somewhere else.

‘Having the mural come down is definitely a sad moment. We wanted it to have a home downtown Providence,’ mural artist Ian Gaudreau told WJAR-TV.

‘I believe it should have stayed up,’ one resident said. ‘I had no problem with the mural. I thought it was beautiful.’

Pictured: Workers take down Iryna Zarutska mural. It had been up on the side of the building housing gay bar the Dark Lady

Mayor Brett Smiley and others had complained that the mural was funded by Elon Musk and Andrew Tate

An artist fund devoted to creating murals to honor slain Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska (pictured) had received hefty donations from Musk and others

Gaudreau said he wished that people could have separated the artwork from its funding source.

‘I think a lot of people are not even taking the time to look at the art and think about what it might mean,’ he said.

A representative for Gaudreau said he is preparing to reinstall the mural elsewhere. The precise location is not known yet.

Zarutska, 23, was riding the train in Charlotte, North Carolina when a crazed attacker snuck up on her from behind and stabbed her to death on August 22.

The refugee who fled her war-torn home in 2022 bled to death with fear in her eyes as onlookers did nothing to intervene. 

Prosecutors identified the cold-blooded culprit as career criminal Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, who blamed his despicably violent actions to a schizophrenic episode. 

In the weeks following Zarutska’s gut-wrenching death, prominent – and controversial – individuals have offered financial backing for art pieces in her memory.  

Zarutska was on her way home from work at Zepeddie’s pizzeria in south Charlotte when she was stabbed three times in her neck and hands.

Artist Ian Gaudreau said that it was a shame to see the mural politicized, which went against his intentions

Musk pledged to commit money after Intercom CEO Eoghan McCabe declared on X in September that he was ‘offering $500k in $10k grants to paint murals of the face of Iryna Zarutska in prominent US city locations’

Horrific footage captured the moment Ukrainian refugee Zarutska (pictured) was stabbed to death from behind as she sat on a train in Charlotte, North Carolina, on August 22 

She was not even on the train for five minutes before she was killed. 

Zepeddie’s posted a tribute to the devoted worker, writing: ‘We lost not only an incredible employee, but a true friend.

‘Our dear Iryna left this world far too soon, and our hearts are heavy with grief.

‘Since her passing, we have kept a candle burning in her memory – a small reminder of the warmth, kindness, and light she brought into our lives every single day.’

In her obituary, family said that before starting her new life in the US, Iryna graduated from Synergy College in Kyiv with a degree in Art and Restoration. 

She was described as an adventurous young woman who adored animals and traveling. 

‘She shared her creativity generously, gifting family and friends with her artwork,’ they said.