Boards cover the windows of Fifth Element, a retail store located on Hennepin Avenue in Uptown Minneapolis. These protective barriers were installed during the civil unrest and protests that followed the murder of George Floyd in May 2020. The boards were subsequently transformed into a public art installation, featuring a prominent portrait of George Floyd, alongside messages such as 'Black Lives Matter' and 'Black Is Beautiful,' reflecting the community's response and calls for justice. Such murals became a widespread form of expression across Minneapolis, turning protective barriers into canvases for remembrance and advocacy during a significant period in the city's history.
Photo taken in November 2020. © 2026 Chad Davis
