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Orange Is The New Black's 'Poussey' Commemorated With Noble Square Mural

By Josh McGhee | April 28, 2017 1:28pm | Updated on April 28, 2017 1:31pm
 Chicago artist Max Sansing works on his mural depicting Poussey Washington, a character in the show
Chicago artist Max Sansing works on his mural depicting Poussey Washington, a character in the show "Orange Is the New Black."
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NOBLE SQUARE — "Orange is the New Black" fans in Chicago can mourn one of the most beloved characters from the series, Poussey Washington, in person thanks to a new mural in Noble Square.

The mural, which was created by Chicago artist Max Sansing, is one of eight commissioned by Netflix in eight cities. Sansing hopes to finish the mural at West Chicago Avenue and North Noble Street this weekend, according to a Netflix spokeswoman.

The murals, which were all painted by fans of the show as it heads into its fifth season on June 9, are also located in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Melbourne, Detroit and San Francisco, she said.

Season five chronicles the women of Litchfield Penitentiary after a riot sparked by the death of Washington, who is played by Samira Wiley.

The kind and sensitive Washington character, in prison on a marijuana charge, was killed by a security guard last season.

The actress Samira Wiley (left) played Poussey Washington in the Netflix series "Orange Is The New Black." The character is the the focus of Max Sansing's mural (right) being created in Noble Square. [Netflix]

Sansing, of Avalon Park, has created murals across the city. He is also the co-founder of RK Design, an art consulting group that specializes in murals and graphic design, according to his Tumblr.

You can check out more of his work here.

Wiley is thrilled with the depictions.

“I think it’s our responsibility as artists to be able to reflect the time that we’re living in," she told the Associated Press.

Washington is "a fictional character that can elicit real change in thought and action from people,” Wiley said.