Artist Phil Buehler has unveiled a new mural in Brooklyn titled "Wall of Tears," which serves as a poignant tribute to 18,457 children killed in Gaza between October 2023 and July 2025. Created with the help of Radio Free Brooklyn, the massive art installation stretches for 50 feet along Grattan Street, listing the names of the deceased children in chronological order, according to data from the Gaza health ministry.
Buehler's work is not without its challenges, as he acknowledges that the scale of these tragic events can be overwhelming. "A single death is a tragedy," he notes, "a million deaths is a statistic." The Wall of Tears aims to humanize this statistic by showcasing the names and faces of the children who lost their lives, accompanied by stories and photos, drawing on reports from reputable sources such as the Guardian and Washington Post.
The mural has been sparked controversy in New York, where nearly 1 million Jews reside, with some attempting to brand efforts to highlight Palestinian suffering as antisemitic. Buehler rejects this notion, emphasizing that open dialogue is essential for addressing these complex issues. "You can't have that conversation at all," he says. "I worry a little bit about that with this piece."
The Wall of Tears has also drawn connections to other notable murals created by Buehler, including the Wall of Lies and the Empty Beds series. However, it is arguably his most personal and emotionally charged work to date.
In an effort to honor the memory of five-year-old Hind Rajab, who was killed during the conflict, a real-life audio recording of her final hours has been incorporated into the mural. This poignant moment serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of war.
Buehler's dedication to using art as a tool for social commentary is evident in his work on the Wall of Tears. As he hopes that viewers will come away from this installation with a sense of empathy and understanding, it remains to be seen whether his message will resonate in a culture often divided by tribalism.
Buehler's work is not without its challenges, as he acknowledges that the scale of these tragic events can be overwhelming. "A single death is a tragedy," he notes, "a million deaths is a statistic." The Wall of Tears aims to humanize this statistic by showcasing the names and faces of the children who lost their lives, accompanied by stories and photos, drawing on reports from reputable sources such as the Guardian and Washington Post.
The mural has been sparked controversy in New York, where nearly 1 million Jews reside, with some attempting to brand efforts to highlight Palestinian suffering as antisemitic. Buehler rejects this notion, emphasizing that open dialogue is essential for addressing these complex issues. "You can't have that conversation at all," he says. "I worry a little bit about that with this piece."
The Wall of Tears has also drawn connections to other notable murals created by Buehler, including the Wall of Lies and the Empty Beds series. However, it is arguably his most personal and emotionally charged work to date.
In an effort to honor the memory of five-year-old Hind Rajab, who was killed during the conflict, a real-life audio recording of her final hours has been incorporated into the mural. This poignant moment serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of war.
Buehler's dedication to using art as a tool for social commentary is evident in his work on the Wall of Tears. As he hopes that viewers will come away from this installation with a sense of empathy and understanding, it remains to be seen whether his message will resonate in a culture often divided by tribalism.
this mural is literally hauntingly beautiful... phil buehler is a genius for tackling such a tough topic like gaza and keeping it so personal & human 
the way he incorporated hind's final audio recording takes it to a whole new level 
u gotta wonder what ppl thinkin they can just erase/ignore these facts by callin it antisemitic tho 
newsflash: highlighting suffering ≠ being anti anything... we need more art like this, not less 
I'm still trying to process the massive scale of child casualties in Gaza over the past 2 years... it's like, can't we just talk about this without getting labeled as anti-Semitic? 
Phil Buehler's art piece is a beautiful way to humanize the numbers and tell the stories of these kids. I mean, seeing their names and faces on that wall is a harsh reminder of what's happening in Gaza... it's not just stats or news headlines, it's real people with families and friends who loved them. We need more art like this, not less 
I just saw this mural in Brooklyn called "Wall of Tears" and I gotta say, it's a real eye-opener. It's heartbreaking to think about all those kids who lost their lives in Gaza... 18,457 is a number that's hard to wrap your head around. I feel for Phil Buehler for tackling this tough subject, but at the same time, I'm so grateful he's using his art to bring attention to it. The fact that he's listing the names of the kids in chronological order and sharing their stories is really powerful. It's not just about numbers or statistics; it's about humanizing the victims of war. We need more people like Phil who are willing to have these hard conversations and create art that sparks empathy and understanding 
I'm still trying to process the emotions behind "Wall of Tears". It's heartbreaking to think about 18k+ kids losing their lives & how that number gets lost in statistics 
. Phil Buehler is a genius for making this art installation, but I can understand why it might be triggering for some people 
. As someone who loves art, I'm all for using it as a tool to spark conversations about tough issues 
. But we gotta be careful not to silence others or make them feel uncomfortable 
. It's okay to disagree & have different perspectives 
. I just hope his message can reach some people and create a little more empathy & understanding 
... I mean, 18,457 kids can't even be remembered properly because of war? It's like, we're supposed to forget about them or something? The audio recording thing with Hind Rajab is just too much for me... it gives you chills every time you think about what she was going through those last few hours 
. I don't get why people are already judging Phil Buehler's work as antisemitic, like, isn't the point of art to spark conversations and raise awareness? Can't we just listen for once without trying to silence each other?
but at least he's doing something with his art to bring attention to this issue and maybe, just maybe, open some eyes 
I'm not sure if it'll make a difference in the grand scheme of things, but what the heck, right? We gotta try, you know? 
I feel bad for the family of that 5-year-old girl whose final hours are played back in the mural - can you imagine? 
. It's a reminder that there are still kids dying over here, and it's up to us to listen and learn. Let's do better, NYC 
.
. This mural is about humanizing all these statistics and trying to make us feel something for these kids who lost their lives 
It's like Buehler says, we need open dialogue to talk about these issues, not just sit in silence. 
Still, I appreciate the effort and the way he's trying to humanize the numbers. The audio recording of Hind Rajab's final hours is super emotional, though - that's some heavy stuff 
my tears just kept flowing 
! can we please have more artists using their platform for these kinds of conversations? 