Prominent muralist sues over destruction of images in Wilkinsburg
A renowned muralist who has installed hundreds of works of art around the Pittsburgh area is suing a property owner in Wilkinsburg, alleging failure to properly notify him before painting over his images.
Kyle Holbrook — known for, among others, painting the Roberto Clemente Museum mural — alleges the act of destroying his works on Wood Street in Wilkinsburg violates the federal Visual Artists Rights Act.
He is seeking damages for financial losses, as well damage to his reputation.
The defendants include A Peace of Mind, described on its website as a nonprofit therapeutic art studio at 620 Wood St., and its co-founders, Felicia R. Robinson and Erica Upshaw-Givner.
The property owners did not immediately respond to a message Friday.
The murals were installed in the summer of 2007 on the exterior of 610 and 620 Wood St. as well as 2013 Wood St.
According to the complaint filed in federal court in Pittsburgh, members of the community painted the murals together as part of Holbrook’s organization, Moving the Lives of Kids Community Mural Project.
The murals — depicting young people and historical figures in bright colors — were intended to last indefinitely.
“The artworks are dedicated to important social issues and receive widespread coverage in the news media and strong support from the communities that surround them,” the complaint said.
However, according to the lawsuit, they were painted over on Sept. 25, 2022, during renovation of the properties.
Holbrook was not given any notice, the lawsuit said, as required by the Visual Artists Rights Act.
Under that statute, the complaint said, the artist must be provided notice in writing of an intent to destroy his artwork 90 days prior to allow for it to be removed.
Holbrook, who lives in Penn Hills, has filed similar lawsuits in the past, including for murals removed from Pittsburgh’s East Liberty and Larimer neighborhoods; Wilkinsburg; McKees Rocks; on and around the East Liberty stop of the East Busway; and on the former East Liberty PNC Bank Branch.
In a well-known case out of Queens, N.Y., a federal court in 2018 awarded $6.75 million in damages to 21 artists who had painted dozens of murals on a warehouse known as 5Pointz.
The damages were upheld by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2020.
Paula Reed Ward is a TribLive reporter covering federal and Allegheny County courts. She joined the Trib in 2020 after spending nearly 17 years at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, where she was part of a Pulitzer Prize-winning team. She is the author of "Death by Cyanide." She can be reached at pward@triblive.com.
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