Tribute in Brick: Quiet Murals Decorate Delis And Firehouses

By the Editorial Team · Friday, September 11, 2026

In the weeks after the 9/11 attacks, artist Joseph Indart created nearly 100 murals across New York City to honor victims and first responders, offering public spaces for mourning and unity. Two decades later, photographer Allan Molho documented many of these murals fading or neglected, highlighting the ongoing challenge of remembering the tragedy amid a desire to move forward, even as related health impacts continue to claim lives.

In the weeks following the September 11, 2001 attacks, murals honoring the victims and rescue workers began appearing across New York City. These quiet, reflective artworks, in contrast to the city’s typically vibrant street art, served as solemn tributes to those who lost their lives during the tragedy. Featuring images ranging from idealized portraits to patriotic symbols such as American flags and eagles, the murals provided a tangible space for public mourning and remembrance at a time when collective grief had yet to fully shift to digital platforms.

On that day, 343 members of the Fire Department, 23 police officers, and 84 employees of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey perished in the attacks on the World Trade Center. The phrase “never forget” became a central message embodied by the murals, countering the city’s shattered skyline with calls for unity and resilience. Joseph Indart, an artist who began painting these murals a week after the attacks, has created and restored nearly 100 since then. Now 61, Indart emphasized the dual message of vulnerability and strength he aims to convey through his work. Reflecting on the national unity witnessed in the immediate aftermath, he remarked that the widespread display of the American flag symbolized a rare moment of collective solidarity amid a deeply divided country.

Twenty years later, photographer Allan Molho undertook a project to document the condition of the surviving murals. His findings revealed that while some had been restored, many were showing signs of wear, neglect, or had faded into the urban backdrop, sometimes overlaid with graffiti. Molho described this mixed state as revealing society’s conflicted relationship with remembrance—wanting to honor the past, yet also seeking to move on. He acknowledged that the initial shock and fear experienced in the weeks after 9/11 are emotions difficult to sustain long-term, suggesting that gradual forgetting may serve as a psychological coping mechanism.

Despite the fading visibility of these public memorials, the long-term impact of the attacks remains stark. Since 2001, more first responders have died from illnesses related to the 9/11 exposures than were killed during the collapse itself. Indart’s most recent mural, depicting a two-story-tall Statue of Liberty, pays tribute to this ongoing toll of loss. The large-scale work serves as a reminder that while physical reminders may erode, the consequences of that day persist over decades.

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