Painting a Legacy of Humanity
In December 2022, as New York prepared to celebrate Hanukkah, the streets of SoHo gained a powerful new landmark: a large-scale mural by Fernando “Ski” Romero honoring Tibor Baranski, the Hungarian Catholic man who saved more than 3,000 Jews during the Holocaust. Painted on the exterior wall of Vig Bar at 12 Spring Street, the work was commissioned by Artists 4 Israel in partnership with the Combat Antisemitism Movement, as part of the global Righteous Among the Nations initiative. The project aimed to remind passersby that heroism transcends background, faith, and nationality.
From SoHo’s Walls to the World’s Conscience
Romero’s mural depicts a striking portrait of Baranski surrounded by rich tones of gold, black, and blue—a palette symbolizing light emerging from darkness. The design integrates distressed textures and layered calligraphy, evoking both the fragility and endurance of moral courage. Across the wall, subtle graffiti-style accents reference New York’s own cultural tapestry, linking the global story of resistance to the city’s visual language of expression.
The mural was unveiled to widespread public emotion. Bystanders, community leaders, and descendants of Holocaust survivors gathered in the cold winter air, many moved to tears as the image came into full view. As one attendee told CBS News, “This mural isn’t just about the past—it’s about what kind of people we choose to be today.” The unveiling ceremony included candle lighting, live music, and speeches emphasizing unity and remembrance.
Art Against Hate
The Baranski mural was created at a time when antisemitic incidents in New York were spiking, making its message especially urgent. For Romero, the project was deeply personal and purposeful. “I wanted to paint something that stood for courage, for choosing to protect others no matter the cost,” he said. The piece, like much of his work, uses scale and visibility to counter apathy. In the heart of one of Manhattan’s busiest neighborhoods, it serves as a moral checkpoint—a reminder that silence, too, is a choice.
Artists 4 Israel and the Combat Antisemitism Movement selected Romero for the project precisely because of his ability to blend street art’s immediacy with human empathy. His work has always walked the line between rebellion and reverence, and this mural is no exception. By honoring a man who defied hate through action, Romero reframed graffiti as not just self-expression but a global form of testimony.
A Global Movement with Local Power
The Righteous Among the Nations mural series spans multiple cities worldwide, from Tel Aviv to Warsaw to New York, each honoring non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jewish people during the Holocaust. Romero’s Baranski mural is one of the most visible in the U.S. and remains a cornerstone of that initiative. Situated in SoHo’s bustling art district, it bridges the historical with the contemporary—placing heroism not in a museum, but on the street.
Following its unveiling, the mural garnered coverage from the Jerusalem Post, CBS News, and Jewish Telegraphic Agency, with media outlets praising its courage and emotional resonance. The work has since become a pilgrimage point for educators and activists, many using it as a tool for dialogue about tolerance, compassion, and civil courage.
The memory of Tibor Baranski, who saved 3,000 Jews during the #Holocaust, lives on in #NewYork with a massive mural painted by world-renowned artist, @FR_Art_Studio pic.twitter.com/j4BhJcHT8X
— Combat Antisemitism Movement (@CombatASemitism) December 19, 2022
Romero’s Ongoing Mission: Art with Purpose
For Fernando “Ski” Romero, the Tibor Baranski mural exemplifies the deeper calling of public art: to provoke empathy and preserve memory. Known for merging graffiti with storytelling, Romero views walls as spaces for truth. “Art can’t stop hate,” he says, “but it can make people stop long enough to question it.”
From SoHo to the Bronx, from Citibank’s Progress is Beautiful to Lincoln Hospital’s United, Romero continues to turn public space into moral space—bridging beauty and responsibility with every stroke of paint.\
