Chavez murals vanish as Venezuela rebrands under US pressure

September 13, 2026 at 08:22 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Murals of Hugo Chavez and other chavismo figures are being removed across Caracas, replaced by blue banners reading "Venezuela renace." The changes follow a US military operation that abducted President Nicolas Maduro in January and twin earthquakes in June that killed at least 6,500 people.

Key Facts

The Palace of Justice in Caracas has had twin portraits of Hugo Chavez and Simon Bolivar covered with blue banners reading "Venezuela renace."
The "Venezuela renace" campaign began after twin earthquakes on June 24 killed at least 6,500 people.
Artist Victor Rodriguez, known as Forastero, painted a Chavez mural for the late leader's birthday on July 28 and now views painting Chavez as resistance.
The United States launched a military operation in January to abduct and imprison then-President Nicolas Maduro.

Removal of Chavez Imagery

In recent months, Caracas has seen graffiti, murals, and billboards of Chavez and other chavismo figures painted over or taken down. The Palace of Justice, once flanked by twin portraits of Chavez and Simon Bolivar, has had both images covered up. In their place are new blue banners emblazoned with the slogan "Venezuela renace," or "Venezuela reborn." Artist Victor Rodriguez, who paints under the name Forastero, helped create a Chavez mural for the late leader's birthday on July 28. Forastero told Al Jazeera that Chavez represents revolution and is anti-imperialist, and that now painting Chavez is resistance.

Political Context and Campaign

The changes come as Venezuela undergoes political change after nearly three decades of chavista rule. Since the United States launched a military operation to abduct and imprison then-President Nicolas Maduro in January, the country has been under intense pressure to reimagine its socialist government. The "Venezuela renace" campaign began in the weeks after the country was struck by twin earthquakes on June 24. At least 6,500 people were killed in the earthquakes. Bright blue and yellow billboards advertising the catchphrase are plastered across government housing blocks and motorway roadsides.