Diego Rivera murals at Rockefeller Center
- Artist/Author/Producer: Diego Rivera
- Confronting Bodies: U.S. Government
- Dates of action: 1933
- Location: The Rockefeller Center, New York City
- Description of the Art Work
- A Mural portrait commissioned by Nelson Rockefeller for Rockefeller
Center in New York City. Its subject was to be "human intelligence in
control of the forces of nature." The 63 feet by 17 feet mural contained
in the center a portrait of Lenin.
- Description of incident
- "On May 22, 1933, Rivera was called down from his scaffold where he was
still working on the unfinished mural. He was handed a check for $14,00,
the balance of his fee, and informed that he had been dismissed. Within
30 minutes the mural had been covered by tarpaper and a wooden screen.
- Results of incident
- "Seeking a compromise, Rockefeller suggested that Rivera should replace
Lenin with some unknown face; the artist offered to add Lincoln but
refused to expunge Lenin. Charged with willful propagandizing, he
declared only that "All art is propaganda." Since he had accepted his
payment, Rivera was unable to force the Rockefellers to exhibit or even
keep his work. The mural was subsequently removed from the wall..." The
Encyclopedia of Censorship, J. Green, Facts on File, pg. 254
Source: The Encyclopedia of Censorship, J. Green, Facts on File
