Five Years of the Black Lives Matter Mural: A Community's Enduring Statement

Five years after its initial creation, the Black Lives Matter mural in Seattle's Capitol Hill stands as a powerful symbol of community, art, and ongoing commitment to social justice. Days before the mural was found vandalized on October 9, 2025, a recent repaint brought together many of the original artists, who reflected on the mural's impact, the city's evolution, and the enduring power of collective action.

A Protest Piece Becomes a Landmark

Artists from the Vivid Matter Collective shared insight into the mural’s significance and symbolism since its creation during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. What began as a protest piece quickly transformed into something much larger: a landmark for the Emerald city, according to artists BT and Chai Adera. 

Recalling the original painting, artist Barry Johnson shared his initial uncertainty with the mural. "I have no idea what I'm walking into," he thought, driving to the site amidst news of the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest in 2020. Upon arrival, he found that most people were being peaceful and appreciating the creative statement.

Angelina Villalobos, an artist who contributed to the mural, highlighted its purpose. "We're repainting it to remind people of this message and that our commitment to social justice and looking out for our brothers and sisters is still very much alive,” she said. 

Art as a Catalyst for Community and Change

The artists consistently emphasized the profound sense of community fostered by the mural. Carolyn Hitt, founder and artistic director of Blue Cone Studios, spoke of radical hospitality, understanding, and care, and how the project created places “where everybody gets to belong." 

Johnson expressed satisfaction with the relationships built between artists and community through the creative process. "I'm really proud of the connections we made,” he said. He also reflected on the shift in the artistic focus of the mural over the course of five years. "It always played a part in my work…it was my art in the center,” he said about the original mural. “Now it's shifted over to be community right at the center of that work."

Reflections On the City and The Future

The artists offered varied perspectives on how Seattle has changed since the mural's inception. Johnson observed a performative aspect to the initial support for Black Lives Matter from brands and politics, noting that many promises of refinement around laws and policing quietly went away.

Despite this trend, BT explained that the mural’s message is just as impactful as it was years ago, if not more. “Surely we haven't seen a down tick in…violence against Black people or over policing," they said. However, they still believed that the artwork is “a good reminder that even if they don't care about ourselves, we care about ourselves."

Looking to the future, Villalobos hoped that negotiations for the mural’s preservation would continue. Hitt envisioned a historical legacy spanning decades to come with the support of Vivid Matter Collective and the City of Seattle. 

The Black Lives Matter mural, through the dedication of its artists and the support of the community, continues to be a vibrant and vital statement in Seattle, prompting reflection, fostering connection, and inspiring hope for a more just future.

Catch Back2Besa every Saturday at 10:30 p.m. on FOX 13 Seattle and Sundays at 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. on FOX 13+. Viewers can also stream episodes anytime on the FOX Local app. 

Did you enjoy this blog post? Then consider donating to Converge and supporting our mission here.