Iconic David Bowie mural in Sheffield city centre stripped off by conservationists as part of building facelift

Local graffiti artist, Trik09, created the seven-foot mural in Division Street as a tribute to Bowie after he passed away from cancer in 2016.

But on Monday, July 18, residents walked through the city to find builders had started to take the mural down by chiseling away to the brickwork underneath.

The wall was completely bare by the next morning.

The mural was hit with tongue-in-cheek criticism when it was first unveiled, with people on social media claiming it looked more like TV presenter Pat Sharp.

One Twitter user at the time said: “A novel idea would be to have a picture that looks like Bowie- who is that a picture of?”

It is understood that the facelift is just one step in a plan by conservationists to update the street.

One member of the public said: “It’s a real shame. It’s not very good for the area.

“Modernisation is taking over.”

Another Sheffield resident told The Star: “It was part of the walk down the street and it’s really weird to have it gone.

“I didn’t know they were getting rid of it, it’s quite sad.”

The mural has been on the side of clothing store Mint, at the corner of Trafalgar Street, for over six years.

Awal Yusoff, who has been working in Mint for 15 years, said: “The mural is a part of Division Street, its identity. I liked it.”

The building's owners have been contacted for a comment.