Los Angeles street artist Plastic Jesus has created a tribute to the victims of last week's tragic terror attack on the Charlie Hebdo newspaper in Paris.

The installation consists of five oversize pencils embossed with the words, je suis Charlie, for “I am Charlie.” It's a sentiment that exploded on social media as the world empathized with a French nation grieving for the 11 newspaper employees and one Muslim cop gunned down by suspected Islamic extremists Wednesday.

It appeared on Melrose Avenue on Saturday.

]

The artist called it “a tribute to those who died in the Paris terror attacks.”


He said the pencils measure about 6-feet long. They were temporarily installed in the 7600 block of Melrose Avenue. 

The artist posted a note nearby that said, “Please do not remove the tribute.” It wasn't clear how long the art remained on a sidewalk.

The Paris attack is believed to be the result of extremest anger over some of Charlie Hebdo's pencil-wielding cartoonists, who have produced unflattering depictions of the Prophet Mohammed, a no-no in some corners of Islam.

Cartoonists Stéphane Charbonnier, Georges Wolinski, Jean Cabut and Bernard Verlhac were among those killed by a pair of suspected terrorists Wednesday, authorities said.

Je suis Charlie-themed street art has been spotted around the world, and Plastic Jesus made a video that highlights some of the work:

#jesuischarlie #instagram #hashtag from peligro pictures on Vimeo.

Credit: Courtesy Plastic Jesus

Credit: Courtesy Plastic Jesus

Credit: Courtesy Plastic Jesus

Credit: Courtesy Plastic Jesus

In late February Plastic Jesus made waves when he created a large likeness of the Academy Awards' Oscar statuette shooting up dope.

He installed it a few days ahead of the annual awards ceremony on nearby Hollywood Boulevard as a statement about the overdose death of Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Credit: Courtesy Plastic Jesus

Credit: Courtesy Plastic Jesus

Send feedback and tips to the author. Follow Dennis Romero on Twitter at @dennisjromero. Follow L.A. Weekly News on Twitter at @laweeklynews.

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.