Community responds after late Charlotte artist's mural removed at Optimist Hall
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HNin Nie painting her mural at Optimist Hall which was removed in late March due to water damage. Photo: Courtesy of the Mint Museum
Charlotte artists have expressed their frustration after a mural by late Charlotte artist HNin Nie was painted over at Optimist Hall.
Why it matters: The removal of HNin Nie's work is a reminder of how quickly public art can be erased. It's juxtaposed by a vocal community making sure that she won't be forgotten.
Context: Her mural at Optimist Hall was part of the Mint Museum's "Playing Pablo" mural series in 2023, where local artists created murals inspired by Picasso's work in "Picasso Landscapes: Out of Bounds" at the museum.
The latest: Due to water damage, the mural was removed at Optimist Hall on March 27.
- "After careful consideration, removal of the mural was necessary to properly address these underlying conditions," according to a statement from Optimist Hall.
What's next: After the water issues are fixed, an Optimist Hall spokesperson says it will work with the Mint Museum on a new mural there. A framed photo of HNin Nie's work will also be displayed at Optimist Hall permanently.
HNin Nie died at age 32 on Aug. 26, 2025 after battling cancer (dermatofibrosarcoma). Her family came to Charlotte as refugees in 1993.
- She spent time as an artists in residence at the McColl Center and Goodyear Arts.
- You've probably seen her work around Charlotte, from Camp North End to Ballantyne.
The big picture: HNin Nie created at least 10 pieces of public art in and around Charlotte. Artist King Carla (Carla Aaron-Lopez) is working to create a full list of HNin Nie's work and to preserve the artist's legacy and remaining pieces.
- See the current list of HNin Nie's work here.
