The Red Lion Mural

Since 1980, The Red Lion has been a cornerstone of the NYC live-music scene — a Bleecker Street institution known for its packed nights, legendary performers, and unapologetic energy. When the venue sought to refresh its look while honoring its legacy, I was commissioned to create a mural that captured the soul of the space: a love letter to its decades of music, grit, and character.

The result is “Rory,” The Red Lion’s frontman — a powerful, roaring lion mid-performance, microphone in paw and mane ablaze with movement. The piece transforms the wall into a stage of its own, embodying the spirit of performance and the raw charisma that has defined The Red Lion for more than forty years.

To maintain a sense of continuity, I preserved the floral border from the venue’s previous mural, integrating it into the new composition as a nod to the bar’s heritage and the many memories etched into its walls. The final work combines expressive illustration with bold, dynamic color to mirror the venue’s electric atmosphere — equal parts nostalgia, energy, and reverence for the music that has filled its rooms since 1980.