The U Street landmark widely known as 鈥渢he RBG building鈥� is headed to auction next week, raising questions about the future of the beloved mural of the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Standing three stories tall, the mural depicts Ginsburg in her judicial robe with her hands open as a flock of birds flies above her. It鈥檚 an image that has become a staple of D.C.鈥檚 public art scene, even being an included stop on city tours.
鈥淧eople know the building because it is the RBG building,鈥� said owner Lisa Wise, who commissioned the artwork in 2019, one year before the justice鈥檚 death.
The building鈥檚 owner said she knew instantly what she wanted the mural to be.
鈥淲hen we drove up and I saw the wall, I just thought that needs to be a mural of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and I would like her to be releasing a flock of birds.鈥�
After Ginsburg died in 2020, the spot became an impromptu memorial, with neighbors leaving notes, flowers and candles at the base of the mural. Wise said that moment reinforced how much the artwork meant to the city.
鈥淲omen whose power is embraced have the most to contribute,鈥� Wise said. 鈥淎nd I believe that Ruth Bader Ginsburg really was that. Her releasing that flock of birds is really a statement about anything being possible for women.鈥�
The building, at 1508 U St. NW, will be offered through a commercial auction from Dec. 9 to 11. Wise, the founder of property management companies Nest D.C. and Roost D.C., recently consolidated her businesses and said the time was right for the property to enter its next chapter.
She said she also planned ahead, and she and the artist, Rose Jaffe, designed the mural so that it could be moved.
鈥淚 did want to be able to move the mural. I鈥檓 always planning for what happens next,鈥� Wise said.
鈥淚 like looking at art that represents people, and Rose was aligned from a values perspective,鈥� Wise said on picking the muralist. 鈥淚 wanted to support a female artist who was in D.C. proper.鈥�
Jaffe and Wise traded designs over email for days before settling on the final concept.
鈥淎nd the nature of a mural in general is that it changes over time. It鈥檚 not a fixed piece of art,鈥� Wise said. 鈥淪o we can move those elements and reinstall.鈥�
Additionally, painting onto the building鈥檚 brick would have compromised the detail that made the portrait so striking.
鈥淭he brick would just break up all of your ability to have a finer detail. And we really wanted her face to be detailed 鈥� her dissent collar to be detailed 鈥� and her engagement ring was really important for us to have featured.鈥�
Only Ginsburg鈥檚 black judicial robe is painted onto the building itself. Everything else, the justice鈥檚 face, the collar, the birds, can be lifted off and reinstalled elsewhere.
No matter who buys the property, Wise said she plans to donate the mural to an organization or community group that can preserve it.
鈥淚鈥檓 a really big fan of the arts. I always have been,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 think it adds character to the city. It鈥檚 an investment in who we are.鈥�
She said she hopes the mural stays in the District.
鈥淚t would be awesome if she stays in D.C. We have a lot of great buildings and a lot of great spaces where she can live,鈥� Wise said. 鈥淚 want her to have a permanent home.鈥�
Wise said if the eventual buyer wants to keep and maintain the mural where it is, that鈥檚 also an option.
鈥淚f we have a buyer that says, 鈥榃e can care for it, we鈥檇 like to have it stay here,鈥� that鈥檚 totally fine,鈥� she said. 鈥淗owever, she does need to be tended to.鈥�
After the auction, the mural鈥檚 future depends on both the buyer of the property and the community partners willing to host it.
鈥淚 want what鈥檚 best for the city,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he mural is an investment in creating landmarks and helping to define and make neighborhoods more special.鈥�
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