Overview
- Artist Ian Gaudreau, who began the piece last week, confirmed Monday the unfinished portrait on The Dark Lady’s exterior will be taken down.
- The bar’s owners apologized to the community and said they would discontinue the project and schedule removal as soon as possible.
- Mayor Brett Smiley called the intent behind the national Zarutska mural push “divisive” and urged support for art that brings residents together.
- Gaudreau said a nonprofit mostly funded by Elon Musk paid for the Providence work, part of grants promoted on X by Intercom CEO Eoghan McCabe with reported pledges from Andrew Tate.
- City officials said the mural was neither commissioned nor registered with Providence, and the dispute has widened a national fight over private memorials, free-expression claims, and the use of victims’ stories in politics.