Birmingham’s cherished John F. Kennedy mosaic, a landmark commissioned by the city’s Irish community and unveiled in 1968, has suffered recent vandalism amid growing concerns over widespread graffiti in its current Digbeth location.
Originally crafted by artist Kenneth Budd and unveiled five years after JFK’s assassination in Dallas, Texas, the mosaic stood prominently at St Chad’s Circus for nearly four decades. It was later relocated to Digbeth High Street due to redevelopment in the city centre.
The move brought a notable change to the artwork, as former Birmingham Lord Mayor Mike Nangle was controversially added to the bottom-right corner of the mosaic.
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Despite its historical and cultural significance, the mosaic has become a frequent target for graffiti, prompting calls from the community for local authorities to identify and take action against those responsible for repeatedly defacing this and other landmark sites.
On social media platform X, users expressed disappointment at the deterioration: “Such a shame. Remember when street art and murals were treated with respect. Kennedy mosaic in Digbeth covered by graffiti. Why can’t we all take pride in the places we grow up in?”
Another user noted, “The tags show it’s the same people doing the graffiti over and over again. Surely it’s not beyond the wit of the authorities to find them, prosecute them and make them clean it all. The area is filled with cameras, for goodness' sake.”
Comments also reflected broader frustrations about the state of the area, with one person stating, “The whole of Digbeth is a disgrace. Graffiti everywhere,” and another adding, “Not to be reactionary but I found this deeply disturbing. This mural of Kennedy was important and revered when I was a kid - I first saw it on a school trip to town in the 1970s. So bloody sad.”
The situation highlights ongoing challenges in preserving Birmingham’s public artworks and maintaining respect for cultural landmarks amid urban change and vandalism concerns.