Shepard Fairey’s Blondie on the Bowery is Defaced

Photo: Eddie Panta
Debbie has been defaced.
The large-scale mural of Debbie Harry – painted by Shepard Fairey in August 2017 – is now compromised. Taggers recently targeted the image of the Blondie front woman, which sits across the Bowery from the former home of CBGB.
The Little Italy Street Art Project commissioned Shepard Fairey for the job exactly three years ago. The grassroots street art nonprofit maintains a relationship with Fairey, which also resulted in “We Own the Future” (August 2014) and “Rise Above” (October 2016) murals on the Bowery and First Avenue respectively.

Photo: Eddie Panta
This wall is famous in downtown lore. Photographer/filmmaker Drew Carolan used this brickwork as backdrop for photos of fans at the hardcore CBGB matinees in the 1980s. Check out the clip below.