A vibrant new mural by legendary graffiti artist Lady Pink now adorns the side wall of Kiehl's at 9th Avenue and West 47th Street, marking the end of an era for a beloved piece of neighborhood history. The colorful artwork has replaced a fading, decades-old mural by renowned French cartoonist Jean-Jacques Sempé, whose whimsical depiction of a cyclist had been a charming fixture of the block for nearly four decades.
The wall carries significant artistic heritage dating back to 1985, when the building housed Metro Midtown bicycle shop. At that time, Sempé, famous for his delicate New Yorker magazine covers, was commissioned to paint a mural featuring a man pedaling through the city. The artwork was rendered in Sempé's signature humorous style, showcasing small figures dwarfed by urban life while perfectly reflecting both the shop's bicycle trade and the artist's distinctive vision.
Over the years, time took its toll on Sempé's creation. The paint gradually peeled and faded, causing the cyclist to slowly disappear into the brick surface beneath. Even the metal bicycle emblem that was once embedded in the sidewalk outside the entrance was recently removed during construction work to replace wheelchair ramps along the block, further altering the corner's historical appearance.
Lady Pink, born Sandra Fabara in Ecuador, is a pioneering figure in New York's 1980s graffiti movement who began her artistic journey painting subway cars at age 15. Now an internationally recognized artist, her work is held in prestigious institutions including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum, and the Brooklyn Museum. Commissioned by Kiehl's, her new mural transforms the skincare shop's side wall into a bright canvas bursting with movement and energy.
The creation process was a collaborative effort, with Lady Pink supervising the work from street level while her husband, fellow graffiti artist SMITH, and studio assistant Matt handled the painting. The entire large-scale piece was completed in just one day, with the team working from morning to night. "I started painting subway cars in '79," Lady Pink explained. "Back then, it was about claiming space — saying we exist. Now I get to share that same energy in places that welcome it."
The mural coincides with Kiehl's Holiday Joy Fest, a special pop-up event taking place at the 9th Avenue shop over the weekend. The festivities include hand-painted customizations by artist SAM, complimentary DermaReader skin consultations, treats from ROYCE Chocolate, and live DJ entertainment, creating a blend of product showcase and neighborhood gathering.
Kiehl's received proper permission from the building owner to repaint the long-weathered wall, describing the project as a celebration of creativity and community in advance of the holiday season. Lady Pink also designed a limited-edition display filled with dozens of products that she painted and signed to create one complete mural. "Even as they take the products, I painted inside the shelf so it doesn't look like crap," she revealed with characteristic attention to detail.
Although Lady Pink has moved from New York to a quieter life upstate, she continues to return for special commissions that connect her to the city's streets. While her primary focus has shifted to gallery and museum work, she still takes on various projects. "We do all kinds of projects — exhibits, private commissions, commercial commissions," she said. "I've got a small crew I've trained for years. When something special like this comes up, we do it together."
The transition from Sempé's gentle cyclist to Lady Pink's bold artwork has evoked mixed reactions from longtime residents. One W47th Street resident expressed understanding of the need to refresh the wall while acknowledging the sense of loss. "You respect the artistry of the old school," they said. "That mural was part of the neighborhood fabric and now it's covered forever."
Lady Pink offered a different perspective on the cyclical nature of street art. "Murals are living things," she explained. "They fade, they chip, they get painted over. That's not a bad thing — it's part of the rhythm of the city." Her words reflect the ongoing evolution of urban art and the way neighborhoods continuously reinvent themselves while building upon their artistic legacy.
