Amir Diop emerged on New York City’s art scene in late February, 2020 after receiving Conception Art Show’s, Award for Excellence. Little did he know that within a mere few weeks later, his art would find voice in the experience of a global pandemic followed by the rage of injustice on black lives living on Americas soil.
A then, twenty-one year old, Diop, took to the streets of SoHo, N.Y.C. to deliver his message of existence and relevance, as a black man, by painting on the plywood boards that covered the windows of retail shops, following the police killing of George Floyd. His daily efforts lead him to meet others, who, in a time of unsureness, isolation and frustration found calm and beauty in creating murals. These chance meetings bonded into an artists collective, SoHo Renaissance Factory (SRF), which Diop is a founding member.
This piece was originally located on 103 Grand St. in SoHo, NYC.