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Freedom Boulevard: giant mural unveiled in Los Angeles by Berlin Wall artist Thierry Noir

Known worldwide for his brave disobedience during the Cold War in illegally painting miles of the Berlin Wall, Thierry Noir’s work stands as a symbol of freedom and an act of defiance against walls, borders, and persecution. Since the 1980s Noir has continued to paint murals around the world in his internationally known visual language.

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Thierry Noir's Freedom Boulevard mural covering a multi-storey residential building in North Hollywood with colourful abstract figures and geometric shapes against a clear blue sky

This week, he has unveiled an enormous 15,000 sq ft public mural in Los Angeles. Entitled Freedom Boulevard, it's his newest and largest public work to date and comes at a time when public art has become a vital tool in amplifying social and political messages and revitalising communities.

Located in the North Hollywood Arts District and commissioned by building owner MWest Holdings, Noir’s massive mural encompasses much of the residential building and is painted in the “Fast Form Manifest” style developed in Berlin during the 1980s. Noir resided at the building for about a month while he completed the artwork. It sustains Noir's long history of creating public art in LA and his association with the city.

This mural also marks the 50th anniversary of Berlin and Los Angeles becoming sister cities. All images courtesy of Thierry Noir.

Thierry Noir's Freedom Boulevard mural covers a white residential building in North Hollywood with colourful abstract shapes and geometric forms in his signature Fast Form Manifest style
White residential building in North Hollywood adorned with Thierry Noir's colourful mural featuring abstract faces and geometric shapes against a blue sky
Thierry Noir's Freedom Boulevard mural covers a white residential building in North Hollywood with colourful abstract shapes including geometric forms and botanical elements against a clear blue sky
Close-up detail of Thierry Noir's Freedom Boulevard mural showing stylised faces in his signature linear style painted in blue and white tones
Detail of Thierry Noir's Freedom Boulevard mural showing a stylised face with bright lime-green and sky-blue sections outlined in black on white brick tiles
Thierry Noir paints "2017" on the white wall as part of his Freedom Boulevard mural in North Hollywood
Aerial view of Thierry Noir's Freedom Boulevard mural covering a white residential building in North Hollywood, featuring colourful abstract shapes and figures on its corner facade.
Aerial view of a white residential building in North Hollywood with Thierry Noir's colourful Freedom Boulevard mural covering its corner facade, surrounded by palm trees and apartment buildings
White residential building in North Hollywood covered with colourful abstract mural by Thierry Noir featuring geometric shapes and playful characters in his signature style
Thierry Noir's Freedom Boulevard mural covers a white residential building in North Hollywood, featuring colourful abstract figures and geometric shapes in his distinctive style against palm trees and blue sky.
Thierry Noir's Freedom Boulevard mural covering a white residential building in North Hollywood with colourful abstract figures and organic shapes in his signature style
Thierry Noir's Freedom Boulevard mural covers a white residential building in North Hollywood, featuring colourful abstract figures and shapes in his signature style against a blue sky.
White residential building in North Hollywood adorned with Thierry Noir's colourful mural featuring stylised faces and geometric shapes in his signature Fast Form Manifest style
Thierry Noir's colourful Freedom Boulevard mural covers a white residential building in North Hollywood, featuring his signature abstract faces and geometric shapes in bright colours alongside palm trees.
White residential building in North Hollywood covered with Thierry Noir's colourful geometric mural featuring circles, squares and abstract shapes in bright colours
Thierry Noir's colourful mural Freedom Boulevard covering a white residential building in North Hollywood, featuring abstract shapes and figures in pink, yellow, orange and green
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