David Wojnarowicz Mural Resurfaces After 40 Years, Quickly Covered Again

Title: The Hidden Legacy of David Wojnarowicz: Rediscovering a Mural in Louisville

In September 2022, architect Moseley Putney made a remarkable discovery during renovation work at the Billy Goat mixed-use development in Louisville, Kentucky. Beneath the drywall of an old lithography building, glimpses of vivid colors caught his attention. This unexpected find led him to uncover a long-forgotten mural by the late artist and activist David Wojnarowicz, created for “The Missing Children Show” in 1985.

The mural, hidden for nearly four decades, revealed Wojnarowicz’s politically charged visual language, featuring images of a burning house, a gagging cow, and planetary motifs. These elements reflect his deep engagement with themes of trauma, injustice, and activism, as documented in his extensive body of work. Despite being hidden behind drywall, the mural had remained remarkably intact, thanks to a stud wall protecting it since the late 1980s.

The mural’s rediscovery has sparked efforts by the David Wojnarowicz Foundation and the New York gallery PPOW, to preserve and potentially display the artwork. However, current building owners, Zyyo, have re-covered the mural to accommodate a gym tenant, placing developers’ priorities against cultural preservation.

This mural’s story reflects ongoing tensions between private property rights and public cultural interest, highlighting the challenges of preserving significant yet overlooked artistic legacies. While the mural remains out of public view, it stands as a testament to Wojnarowicz’s enduring impact and the complexities of safeguarding art in contemporary society.