What Happens When Murals Get Painted Over

I’m talking about something that can be tough for artists to navigate… what happens when a mural gets painted over.

It’s a situation that brings up a lot of emotion, especially when a piece is loved by the community or holds personal meaning. I’ve experienced it myself, and recently my city went through a similar situation, with guest artist Austin Sepulveda, that sparked a lot of conversation. I interviewed Austin to chat about his painting techniques and what it was like being the artist commissioned to paint over a much loved mural.

The biggest takeaway from this chat is that painting is a business, and art replaced by more art is just part of it. Murals fade, building ownership changes, and new murals are painted. Finding a way to not take it so personally, or just replicate it, is the key to solving these tricky situations.