Art as Activism: The Portrait Holding a Minneapolis Community Together

In the wake of tragedy, communities often search for a focal point for their grief—a place to gather, to mourn, and to remember. For the South Minneapolis neighborhood grieving Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother, poet, and community figure fatally shot by an ICE agent in late January, that focal point was created not with stone or ceremony, but with paint and purpose.

On the corner of 34th and Portland, at the very site of the growing memorial, local artist Noval Noir (@novalnoir) set up her brushes. Her mission: to paint a live, public portrait of Renee Good, transforming a space marked by trauma into one of tribute and light.

The Artist’s Statement: A Brush in the Public Square

For Noir, the act of painting live at the memorial was a deliberate form of expression and unity. In a clip aired by FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul, the artist explained her presence, connecting her work to an official day of remembrance.

“I am painting live,” Noir said. “This is what I do in general and this is how I express myself… and this is a day that Governor Walls name Renee community day and this is how we unite and this is how artists speak. So we are.”

This quote frames the portrait as more than art; it is public speech, a civic gesture of solidarity that aligns personal expression with community action.

A Portrait to Redirect Grief

Through research and community accounts, a clear picture emerges of the portrait’s impact. Created in Noir’s signature style—rich, soulful realism using a palette of warm ambers and golds—the painting depicts Good with a serene and knowing gaze. Based on family photographs, its intent was not to capture a somber memory but to evoke the living spirit of a beloved community member.

By all reports, it succeeded. The portrait quickly became the emotional heart of the memorial. Community members have described it as a powerful anchor that redirected the energy of the corner. Where there was once only the shock of loss, the portrait provided a point for collective remembrance, allowing people to share stories and celebrate Good’s life as a mother and poet.

The Power of Impermanent Memorials

The work also speaks to a powerful theme in community-led memorials: the strength found in impermanence. Painted on plywood and exposed to the harsh Minnesota elements, the portrait is a present-tense offering. Its temporary nature is not a flaw but a feature—a testament to the idea that the act of remembering right now, in this immediate moment of grief, is what holds the most meaning. It serves the community for as long as it is needed, embodying the notion that art’s power can lie in its poignant presence, not its permanence.

A Legacy of Light

The story of Noval Noir’s portrait for Renee Good is a specific, local example of a universal truth: in the face of incomprehensible loss, art provides a language where words fail. It can build a sanctuary of memory on a street corner and offer a way for a community to see not just what was taken, but what was loved. Through this single act of public artistry, a neighborhood’s love for Renee Good is made visible, ensuring her legacy is defined by light, not darkness.