Mount Dora mural finished despite requests to remove it

MOUNT DORA, Fla. — The Mount Dora artist who was told by the city code enforcement to paint over a Van Gogh recreation along a wall has instead finished the mural.

Richard Barrenechea is the artist who painted a 40-foot-long, eight-foot-tall “Starry Night” Van Gogh recreation near U.S. 441.

Barrenechea took photos of the finished work-of-art and sent them to Channel 9's Angela Jacobs.

Homeowners asked him to paint the mural after the wall was peeling, chipping and had cracks. He said he finished it in hopes the community will support the fight to keep the mural.

Code enforcement told Eyewitness News last week that the work is considered graffiti and the mural has to be painted over by Aug. 14. A judge ruled the mural can stay up a little while longer and scheduled a court hearing Sept. 14.

Cox Media Group