And on a Beautiful Spring Day, the Iryna Mural Came Down — With a Promise It Will Rise Again

Removed carefully from a canvas mounted to brick, the controversial “Remember Iryna” mural leaves behind questions about public art, politics, and what happens next.

And on a beautiful spring day, the mural of Iryna Zarutska at 19 Snow Street was taken down.

No one witnessed a mass destruction of the large mural as it was uncovered that it was done on a canvas that was affixed to the mottled brick wall. Supervised by the artist, Ian M. Gaudreau, and managed by Boston Building Wrap, who also assisted with putting up the canvas.

Rhode Island made national news… again.

So I made a little news today…
My 40 foot painting of Iryna Zarutska downtown Providence has officially come down safely and has been stored in my studio. What will happen next? I’m not sure but it’s gonna be epic if I have my way
Huge thanks to @BosBuildingWrap for… pic.twitter.com/Ti97HtZHM5

— Ian M Gaudreau (@IanGaudrea30195) May 12, 2026

Here is Ian’s documentation of the removal of the mural:

As the massive Snow Street mural was carefully removed from the wall, a smaller version of Iryna already stood completed on Federal Hill—a reminder that the controversy may have changed the mural’s location, but not its momentum.”

The mural garnered so much publicity and a political quandry for The Dark Lady owners of the building, but the rather brave owner of Opa Restaurant offered an alternative site – not a perfect one and a smaller one – but one the artist soon made a glowing statement to Iryna and more.

The “decommissioning” of the original was imminent with daily checks as well as appeals to leave it as it was – standing in testimony to what had happened in Providence, Rhode Island.

A sitting Mayor and a Mayoral candidate seemed to struggle to be on the right side of opposing the mural – a position for Mayor Smiley that was highly unusual and surprised many supporters.

Artist Gaudreau has plans to resurrect the large Iryna mural. We will follow those plans.

The mural on Opa is complete:

RINewsToday’s past stories on the Iryna mural project:

Public art demands we think. Erasing “Iryna” erases the reason to. New Mural in Providence.

Updated: Controversy Deepens as Second ‘Remember Iryna’ Mural Rises on Federal Hill