After the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25, people all over the world have been protesting systemic racism and police brutality. Protest comes in many forms, with art being one of them.

Black Lives Matter: Public protest art from all over the world

Black Lives Matter: Public protest art from all over the world

Just think of famous creators like Keith Haring and Theaster Gates, who both use art to take a stand and raise awareness around key issues.

Murals in public spaces are a particularly poignant way to get a message across – they're easily accessible and will likely be seen by a lot of people. These are some of the most powerful examples of public art protesting for the Black Lives Matter movement all over the world…

"ALL BLACK LIVES MATTER" is painted on Hollywood Boulevard in LA

Large scale murals painted onto roads have popped up all around the US. The first was in Washington DC, a few blocks away from the White House, saying "Black Lives Matter". Since then, similar murals – some updated to say "All Black Lives Matter" in light of the increased conversation around black trans lives being disregarded – have been painted in cities like LA, New York and Dallas.

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After a full-day project with @donkeemom, I received a message from OG MUGZ asking me if I could paint a memorial mural for his very good friend, George Floyd. Encouraged by my mother and despite the exhaustion, we agreed to create something that same day that would help remember Big Floyd. We quickly gathered materials and headed to Third Ward. The wall is located across the street from where George Floyd grew up. I must admit, this was the first time painting where I felt sad and honored at the same time. Hearing stories about George from those that gathered around was something else. His friends and loved ones are the reason I included the word "GHETTO" on the shirt. Everyone said, "That was him!" and, "He wore those shirts all the time," and, "It needs to be on there." Humbled to even be considered to paint this mural, but I hope this is the last one like it I have to paint. I hope when all of you see this in person, it serves as a remembrance of George Floyd and the symbol for Equality he has become. #georgefloyd #blm

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George Floyd's death was the catalyst for Black Lives Matter protests all over the world, and many murals have been dedicated to saying his name, showing his face and honouring his memory. This mural was painted in Houston's Third Ward, where Floyd grew up, and features him with angel wings. The halo above his head is made with the words "Forever breathing in our hearts", in reference to some of Floyd's last words – "I can't breathe" – which have since become a haunting tagline for the movement.

A mural of George Floyd in West Dublin.
A mural of George Floyd in West Dublin.

In fact, his face has appeared in public art everywhere – like this mural in West Dublin.

Sadly, Floyd is not the only African American to have lost his life too soon. Indianapolis artist Mechi Shakur has painted murals all over the city, and he's using his platform to remember other individuals who have died including Trayvon Martin and Philando Castile.

A man walks past a
A man walks past a "Black Lives Matter" mural painted on the boarded-up Apple Store, in Boston.

With many shops closed because of the pandemic, shopfronts have increasingly been used for public art and graffiti. This mural, painted on the boarded up Apple Store in Boston, memorialises Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and Tony McDade – who all lost their lives this year – as well as Marsha P Johnson.

Johnson was a black gay rights activist who died in 1992, and is being remembered this June in honour of Pride month.

A mural showing Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jnr in Waterloo, London.
A mural showing Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jnr in Waterloo, London.

Prominent figures in the fight for racial equality are also frequent subjects for public art. This London mural shows Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr with the words: "I have a dream."

A cyclist passes graffiti in Edinburgh following a raft of Black Lives Matter protests took place across the UK
A cyclist passes graffiti in Edinburgh following a raft of Black Lives Matter protests took place across the UK

Public art is a way of expressing a city's personality and history, and this piece of graffiti in Edinburgh shows its support for Black Lives Matter in a uniquely Scottish way.