STARMAN MEETS THE BLACKSTAR BY NICOLETTA FALRACCO
This vibrant piece of street art is a tribute to the legendary David Bowie, blending his early and final artistic personas.
The Artwork: Starman Meets the Blackstar
Painted in 2016 as part of the Dublin Canvas "Paint-A-Box" initiative, this piece was one of the many tributes that appeared across the globe following Bowie's death in January of that year.
Theme: The artwork serves as a visual bridge between the 1972 Ziggy Stardust era (the "Starman") and his final studio album, Blackstar, released just two days before his passing.
Location: It was originally located on a traffic signal control box at the junction of Eustace Street and Dame Street in Temple Bar, Dublin 2.
Significance: Like many Dublin Canvas pieces, it was designed to "brighten up the city" by turning functional, grey utility boxes into high-visibility public art. While these pieces typically last about 4–5 years before being repainted or weathered, this specific box became a popular landmark for Bowie fans visiting the Temple Bar area.
The Artist: Nicoletta Falracco
Nicoletta Falracco is a Dublin-based Italian illustrator and graphic designer. Her involvement with Dublin Canvas highlights the project's mission to include a diverse range of artists—from professional illustrators to local hobbyists.
Style: Her work often features clean lines and bold, symbolic imagery. In this piece, she utilised the three-dimensional nature of the traffic box to create a multi-angled narrative of Bowie’s career.
Contribution: Beyond this specific commission, Falracco has been a frequent contributor to Dublin's creative scene, often blending pop culture icons with contemporary graphic styles.
The Artwork: Starman Meets the Blackstar
Painted in 2016 as part of the Dublin Canvas "Paint-A-Box" initiative, this piece was one of the many tributes that appeared across the globe following Bowie's death in January of that year.
Theme: The artwork serves as a visual bridge between the 1972 Ziggy Stardust era (the "Starman") and his final studio album, Blackstar, released just two days before his passing.
Location: It was originally located on a traffic signal control box at the junction of Eustace Street and Dame Street in Temple Bar, Dublin 2.
Significance: Like many Dublin Canvas pieces, it was designed to "brighten up the city" by turning functional, grey utility boxes into high-visibility public art. While these pieces typically last about 4–5 years before being repainted or weathered, this specific box became a popular landmark for Bowie fans visiting the Temple Bar area.
The Artist: Nicoletta Falracco
Nicoletta Falracco is a Dublin-based Italian illustrator and graphic designer. Her involvement with Dublin Canvas highlights the project's mission to include a diverse range of artists—from professional illustrators to local hobbyists.
Style: Her work often features clean lines and bold, symbolic imagery. In this piece, she utilised the three-dimensional nature of the traffic box to create a multi-angled narrative of Bowie’s career.
Contribution: Beyond this specific commission, Falracco has been a frequent contributor to Dublin's creative scene, often blending pop culture icons with contemporary graphic styles.

STARMAN MEETS THE BLACKSTAR BY NICOLETTA FALRACCO