Mexican mural artist dismissed from work at Rockefeller building in New York after painting communist fresco . A mural showing Lenin joining the hands of a soldier and a white coloured worker painted by Senor Diego Rivera , the Mexican artist , has led to his dismissal from further work at the great Rockfeller Centre in New York . Members of Mr John D Rockefeller ' s family took exception to the painting and an ultimatum was delivered to Senor Rivera , which insisted that he must change the fresco or cease work . So far the artist , who is said to have pronounced Communist leanings , has refused to alter his work and Mr Nelson Rockfeller , grandson of the oil magnate , has ordered the fresco to be covered . Following the incident work which Senor Rivera was executing for a motor company in connection with the Chicago World Fair has been cancelled . Photoshows ; A close - up of the offending part of the mural by Senor Diego Rivera . 17 May 1933