The City of Apopka is at the center of an artful controversy after the recent unveiling of a new downtown mural that bears a striking resemblance to the work of an artist from another city. According to a WFTV report, the City of Apopka issued an apology and has promised fair credit and compensation to the original artist who claimed the design was a knockoff of her creation.
Painted on the side of a Domino's Pizza on East Main Street, the mural drew immediate backlash for its resemblance to a work created by an Iowa artist in 2017, who recognized her design post-unveiling. In response, Apopka's Main Street Program, having no city officials or staff involved in the art selection, as reported by WFTV, stepped in with a public apology.
As the online outcry escalated, the Apopka artist involved defended the piece, stating that they merely worked from the inspiration provided by the city, and not from a blank canvas. Following the scuffle, ClickOrlando discovered yesterday that the mural had been updated to include the Iowa artist's name, noting the artwork was inspired by her original design.
Amidst the fallout, the city also confirmed its ongoing commitment to downtown enhancement projects by bolstering Main Street Apopka with a $12,500 injection aimed at supporting revitalization and growth, as reported by WFTV.
