Billboard Company Rejects Artist’s Mural of George Floyd in Minneapolis

Clear Channel Outdoor canceled the public display claiming it’s too violent.

BLM

A national advertising firm called Clear Channel Outdoor rejected a billboard order for downtown Minneapolis last Thursday because it portrayed an artist’s rendering of George Floyd’s murder. The artist behind the work, 79-year-old New York native Don Perlis, received an e-mail from the company’s account executive Beau Ryan claiming the billboard image was denied because it “depicts acts of violence,” as per Artnet.

The imagery on the planned Minneapolis billboard is identical to the one that went up in Times Square in New York City back in October. It portrays Perlis’ oil on canvas painting titled FLOYD that the artist made following Floyd’s murder by Minneapolis police on May 25. The artist’s piece, which was to be recreated on a 24-by-7-foot billboard depicts Floyd on the ground with his face looking directly at the viewer. Three police officers are also shown restraining him from behind with the fourth officer standing idly.

The New York billboard also featured a quote from the Dalai Lama: “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”
The Minneapolis billboard, which was planned to be installed at 1601 Hennepin Ave South on January 11, 2021, was going to feature a quote from Martin Luther King Jr.: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

The sponsor behind the public display of Perlis’ creation was the George Floyd Justice Billboard Committee — a collective of New York-based artists who started an GoFundMe page to raise funds to install billboards featuring the work across the country. Identical billboards are slated to erect next month in Atlanta and Los Angeles.

“I realize in Minneapolis right now this is a hotbed issue, the city is bitterly divided,” Perlis told Artnet. “It could be that people might think it’s too inflammatory because the trial is coming up there.” He added that while the painting depicts a violent act, it does not read as a violent image unless you are already familiar with the incident.

The officers who killed Floyd will go on trial in Minneapolis on March 8, 2021. Derek Chauvin, the officer who placed his knee on Floyd’s neck, has been charged with second-degree murder. The other officers are currently facing charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder.

Read Full Article

What to Read Next

Joshua Vides Creates Limited-Edition Collection Inspired by Unfinished Business
Sales

Joshua Vides Creates Limited-Edition Collection Inspired by Unfinished Business

Presented by NTWRK
The exclusive capsule benefitting One Hundred Black Men, the Hispanic Federation and the Asian American Business Development Center, will be available on NTWRK.

Emily Ludwig Shaffer Unveils 'The No-No Dance' Limited Edition Print

Emily Ludwig Shaffer Unveils 'The No-No Dance' Limited Edition Print

Made in collaboration with JRP Next and Galerie PACT.

International Artists Explore Alternate Realities in "Universes 3" Group Exhibition

International Artists Explore Alternate Realities in "Universes 3" Group Exhibition

On view at WOAW gallery in Hong Kong.

Futura Will Release a Limited Edition 'Harajuku' Print With MCA Chicago

Futura Will Release a Limited Edition 'Harajuku' Print With MCA Chicago

To commemorate his first-ever monograph published by Rizzoli.

Frist Art Museum to Display Over 75 Artworks by Pablo Picasso in Major Survey

Frist Art Museum to Display Over 75 Artworks by Pablo Picasso in Major Survey

“Picasso. Figures” will explore the artist’s longstanding fascination with the human figure.


Joan Cornellà Will Philosophically Rip Your World a New One
Features

Joan Cornellà Will Philosophically Rip Your World a New One

An interview with the dark humored artist at his solo exhibition “My Life Is Pointless.”

Emerging EBIT™ (Enjoy Being in Transition™) Collective Teases Glen Luchford Project

Emerging EBIT™ (Enjoy Being in Transition™) Collective Teases Glen Luchford Project

Revealing its inaugural logo artwork designed by M/M (Paris).

Louis de Guzman Teams up With Bugs Bunny for New 'A Wild Hare' Figure and Print

Louis de Guzman Teams up With Bugs Bunny for New 'A Wild Hare' Figure and Print

Both ‘A Wild Hare’ pieces feature De Guzman’s signature blend of bright colors and “geometric abstraction” detailing.

Andy Warhol's Holiday-Themed Works Are Fetching Thousands of Dollars at Auction

Andy Warhol's Holiday-Themed Works Are Fetching Thousands of Dollars at Auction

With proceeds going to artists in need.

Confront Huma Bhabha's Otherworldly Sculptures And Drawings In "Unsuspected" Online Exhibition

Confront Huma Bhabha's Otherworldly Sculptures And Drawings In "Unsuspected" Online Exhibition

Unruly figurations and totemic pieces that blend the human and animal worlds.

More ▾
 
We got you covered. Don’t miss out on the latest news by signing up for our newsletters.

Looks like you’re using an ad-blocker

We charge advertisers instead of our readers. Support us by whitelisting our site.

Whitelist Us

How to Whitelist Us

screenshot
  1. Click the AdBlock icon in the browser extension area in the upper right-hand corner.
  2. Under “Pause on this site” click “Always”.
  3. Refresh the page or click the button below to continue.
screenshot
  1. Click the AdBlock Plus icon in the browser extension area in the upper right-hand corner.
  2. Block ads on – This website” switch off the toggle to turn it from blue to gray.
  3. Refresh the page or click the button below to continue.
screenshot
  1. Click the AdBlocker Ultimate icon in the browser extension area in the upper right-hand corner.
  2. Switch off the toggle to turn it from “Enabled on this site” to “Disabled on this site”.
  3. Refresh the page or click the button below to continue.
screenshot
  1. Click the Ghostery icon in the browser extension area in the upper right-hand corner.
  2. Click on the “Ad-Blocking” button at the bottom. It will turn gray and the text above will go from “ON” to “OFF”.
  3. Refresh the page or click the button below to continue.
screenshot
  1. Click the UBlock Origin icon in the browser extension area in the upper right-hand corner.
  2. Click on the large blue power icon at the top.
  3. When it turns gray, click the refresh icon that has appeared next to it or click the button below to continue.
screenshot
  1. Click the icon of the ad-blocker extension installed on your browser.You’ll usually find this icon in the upper right-hand corner of your screen. You may have more than one ad-blocker installed.
  2. Follow the instructions for disabling the ad blocker on the site you’re viewing.You may have to select a menu option or click a button.
  3. Refresh the page or click the button below to continue.