‘My Black is Beautiful...and it Matters’ New BLM mural in downtown Lexington unveiled
A new mural near the corner of Short and Broadway in downtown Lexington highlights racial injustice and Black Lives Matter.
Sponsored and funded by LexPark and local arts group PRHBTN, the Ciara LeRoy mural reads: “Despite the Atrocities of History. Despite the Perils of the Present. Despite the Unknown of My Future. My Black is Beautiful, Unapologetic, Innovative, Resilient, and It Matters. Black Lives Matter.”
The mural was completed Saturday.
LeRoy, who sometimes goes by Pretty Strange, is an Ohio native who has lived in Lexington for a decade. LeRoy started Pretty Strange Design in Lexington in 2017. She specializes in art with social justice underpinnings and works in hand lettering, illustration, murals, and embroidery.
LeRoy said the mural’s inspiration is anchored in three lines of poetry written by Lexington drag queen Shady Coutour.
“Under Shady’s words are adjectives to describe Blackness gathered from other Black Lexingtonians,” LeRoy said. “I wanted this mural to be bold and direct but also inspiring and smile-inducing.”
The mural is located between Savane Silver and Creaux on Short Street on the LexPark garage.
Since its inception in 2011, PRHBTN’s has been involved in 34 murals in Lexington. Through its murals and art shows, the group promotes the work of marginalized and underrepresented artists.
This story was originally published September 14, 2020 at 2:33 PM.
