PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — It has been the talk of the city for days, and now a verdict has been reached: the mural of Iryna Zarutska in Providence is coming down.
NBC 10’s Ryan Medeiros reports that a mural depicting a Ukrainian refugee who was murdered will be removed from a Providence building.{ }
What began as a tribute to honor the slain Ukrainian refugee quickly became a political flashpoint, drawing criticism from local leaders and the community alike.
Artist Ian Gaudreau, speaking to NBC 10 News on Monday afternoon, confirmed the news that the artwork is going to be removed.
“A lot of people voiced their frustrations, and voices were heard, and the work is coming down as a reaction to that,” Gaudreau said.
The decision follows intense online backlash surrounding the politics of the unfinished project.
The owners of The Dark Lady, the downtown gay club where the mural is located, released a statement to the community apologizing for the controversy:
“We heard you PVD. We are deeply and sincerely sorry for everything that has taken place over the past week. After reflecting and learning, we have made the decision to discontinue this project and will move forward with removal as soon as possible. We remain committed to fostering unity, safety, and care for all members of our community, and we will continue to listen, learn, and act with those values at the forefront.”
This undated photo posted to Instagram on June 9, 2025, by Iryna Zarutska shows a picture of herself. (Iryna Zarutska via AP)
Despite the friction, Gaudreau maintained that his goal was to provide a respectful memorial.
“I want everybody to know that my intention with the mural was to lower the temperature,” he said.
Among the project’s most vocal critics was Providence Mayor Brett Smiley.
In a statement released Monday morning, Smiley criticized the motivations of the project’s backers: “The murder of the individual depicted in this mural was a devastating tragedy, but the misguided, isolating intent of those funding murals like this across the country is divisive and does not represent Providence. I continue to encourage our community to support local artists whose work brings us closer together rather than further divides us.”
State Rep. David Morales, who is running for mayor, found himself in rare agreement with Smiley on the issue.
“We’re seeing a right-wing movement that is exploiting the death of the refugee for the purposes of trying to spread division,” Morales said. “Ultimately, we want to make sure that every community member that calls Providence home feels safe … and we can both agree that this mural behind us does not reflect Providence’s values.”
The mural, located on The Dark Lady, a well-known gay club in downtown Providence, depicts Iryna Zarutska. (WJAR)
State Republicans expressed dismay with the uproar over the mural on social media.
State Sen. Jessica de la Cruz, the Republican minority leader, said on X: “This isn’t a vulgar or explicit mural. It’s a portrait — a face — memorializing a victim. The First Amendment exists to protect expression like this, even when it’s uncomfortable. Ordering it removed isn’t leadership. It’s censorship. Hard to square ‘No Kings’ rhetoric with acting like one. You don’t get to be the Creative Capital if creativity needs permission.”
The controversy also brought clarity regarding the mural’s financial backing. When asked about the source of the funding, Gaudreau confirmed the involvement of high-profile donors.
“The mural was funded by a nonprofit organization that was mostly funded by Elon Musk, that is a fact,” Gaudreau said.
Zarutska, a 23-year-old refugee, was stabbed to death in North Carolina last summer. While Gaudreau could not speak for the motivations of the nonprofit, he remained adamant that his personal contribution had no ulterior motive.
“All of this political vitriol being kicked up has removed Iryna’s humanity from her story,” Gaudreau said. “And I think we’d all do better to remember that.”
Gaudreau said the timeline for the mural’s removal will depend on when the decommissioning can be scheduled.
