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Woman who rode horse at Oakland protest gets her own mural

Madeline Wells

Last Friday, a young black woman named Brianna Noble rode horseback through an Oakland demonstration for George Floyd, fist in the air, a Black Lives Matter sign attached to her saddle. The image was striking - so much so that she inspired an Oakland mural.

"She made such a powerful impact on all of us," said Pancho Pescador, one of the artists who worked on a new revolution-themed mural outside of Luka's Taproom in Oakland. "Just to see a huge horse with this beautiful black woman on top of it leading the march, it's such a beautiful sight."

Pescador said that from the moment he saw the iconic photos of Noble, he knew he wanted to paint her. The opportunity came sooner than he expected: when the owners of Luka's Taproom reached out a few days ago to artist Chris Granillo with a mural idea, Granillo invited Pescador and other artists Project Pat, Reon Jarreau, Christian Munoz and Chicano Eyes to join him on the project. 
Photo by Chris Granillo

Pescador said that from the moment he saw the iconic photos of Noble, he knew he wanted to paint her. The opportunity came sooner than he expected: when the owners of Luka’s Taproom reached out a few days ago to artist Chris Granillo with a mural idea, Granillo invited Pescador and other artists Project Pat, Reon Jarreau, Christian Munoz and Chicano Eyes to join him on the project. 

On Thursday, the mural was finished: A fiery scene of shadowed revolutionaries holding fists, signs, and flags to the air, with Brianna Noble on horseback as the centerpiece. A portrait of Nipsey Hussle looks on from the far right of the mural. 
Photo by Chris Granillo, Pictured: Brianna Noble

On Thursday, the mural was finished: A fiery scene of shadowed revolutionaries holding fists, signs, and flags to the air, with Brianna Noble on horseback as the centerpiece. A portrait of Nipsey Hussle looks on from the far right of the mural. 

Brianna Noble, a Martinez resident, even came to Oakland to see the mural and meet the artists behind it. 
Photo by Maria Alderete

Brianna Noble, a Martinez resident, even came to Oakland to see the mural and meet the artists behind it. 

“I got to meet her at the wall. That was a beautiful moment. It was very emotional,” said Pescador. “When I met her I just realized how powerful she is.” 

Pescador has been hard at work painting in the streets all week. He said that he sees parallels between the current Black Lives Matter movement and the demonstrations happening in his native Chile, so he has also worked on some murals that showcase that solidarity. To him, he says, art is a tool of change and empowerment.
Photo by Maria Alderete

Pescador has been hard at work painting in the streets all week. He said that he sees parallels between the current Black Lives Matter movement and the demonstrations happening in his native Chile, so he has also worked on some murals that showcase that solidarity. To him, he says, art is a tool of change and empowerment.

Photo by Chris Granillo

“We [artists] are not detached from social movements. If you see history, you’ll find that artists have been on the frontlines always,” said Pescador. “For me, I want to use my gift, which is painting, to inspire people. The revolution needs to be attractive, it needs to be colorful.”

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Madeline Wells is an SFGATE reporter. Email: madeline.wells@sfgate.com | Twitter: @madwells22