ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – A pair of unauthorized murals that popped up on an Albuquerque overpass were supposed to be removed. Now, the state may allow them to stay.
“This was a very extenuating circumstance,” said Public Information Officer Kimberly Gallegos for NMDOT District 3.
The two murals are along the concrete walls under I-25 at Lead Avenue.
On one side is a painting of large potted plants and a window. On the other, there are more potted plants and a polar bear. In April, NMDOT told KRQE the agency did not commission the art, and crews would be removing them.
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“From working with maintenance in the past, I know that our rules are to paint over something like this, and it would be treated as graffiti for the maintenance handbook at NMDOT,” said Gallegos.
After the public rallied around the art, NMDOT decided to see about keeping it in place.
“We feel this is a good opportunity to work with local artists.”