In the wake of George Floyd's death at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer, artists have been quick to respond with works that seek to memorialize, to provoke, and to heal. Whether through sharing illustrations on Instagram, or creating murals in the streets of Minneapolis, many artists have created tributes to give honor to the lives of those lost to police violence and racial injustice.

Thirty-three-year-old Shirien Damra’s memorial image dedicated to George Floyd, “Justice for George,” has already received over three million likes since she posted it the day after Floyd was killed. Her work has been widely shared, including by congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib. Damra noted that when art is used to bring attention to social issues, it can connect with people in ways that other forms of political engagement cannot: “Art can touch the emotional core of what moves us toward social justice in ways that a strategy meeting or news or political analysis can’t. Murals, graffiti, and paintings are a chance for communities to come together and speak their mind or represent themselves in public space.”

Artwork by Shirien Damra.