Kobra's Michael Jackson Mural

The mural towering above the corner of First Avenue and 11th Street is the work of Brazilian street artist Eduardo Kobra. Completed in the summer of 2018, the five-story painting depicts the musician as two distinct figures. One side shows a young Jackson during his time with the Jackson 5, while the other captures him in his later years. Kobra used his signature style of vibrant, geometric, and kaleidoscopic color patterns to bridge these two versions of the artist. The placement of the mural in the East Village was intended to celebrate what would have been Michael Jackson's sixtieth birthday. By splitting the face, the artist aimed to visually represent the dramatic transformation Jackson underwent throughout his life, both in appearance and in his public identity.