NYC's Iconic Alphabet City Mural Erased
New York's East Village has lost the longtime "Alphabet City" mural, a neighborhood fixture for nearly 11 years that was erased by an anti-graffiti crew. Residents are lamenting the loss of this local landmark, which had become a symbol of the area's creative spirit and urban identity.
- The mural was created in late 2014 by Brooklyn-based artists The Yok and Sheryo. It was located on a windowless, one-story RCN Cable building at the corner of Sixth Street and Avenue C. - Its creation was not without controversy, as a proposal by celebrated local street artist Antonio "Chico" Garcia and the community group Loisaida Inc. for a mural celebrating Lower East Side "heroes" was rejected in favor of the "Alphabet City" piece. Some community members felt the alphabet theme was a simplistic representation of the neighborhood's deep history. - The wall had previously featured unauthorized murals by Chico, including one depicting Obama and McCain in 2008, which led to a strained relationship with the building's tenant, RCN. - The "Alphabet City" mural remained untouched for eight years before being tagged in August 2022; the graffiti worsened from that point on. - An anti-graffiti crew power-washed the mural on Monday, June 2, 2025, leading to its complete removal. - The arts group that commissioned the mural, Green Villain, is a Jersey City-based organization that connects artists with owners of graffiti-ridden properties to create public art.
