London gets a bad reputation for being grey and dreary. While it does indeed rain a lot, the city is bursting with creativity and artists from all over the world have brought their colourful and vibrant art to the streets. Hackney is famous for its murals and, with so many to choose from, this is by no means a complete list. Instead, it is a guide to exploring some of the best street art the borough has to offer. A few of these artworks have already stood the test of time, while others may not last the year. Murals are not permanent; they crack and fade as their host wall ages, they can be painted over without any notice and they get demolished if the plot of land they happen to exist upon is sold to developers. That’s part of the transitory beauty of street art: there one day, gone the next. So go and take a look before it’s too late.
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Hackney Peace Carnival mural on Dalston Lane
Originally created in 1985 by Hackney-based artists Mick Jones and Ray Walker, the Hackney Peace Carnival mural is a cultural landmark that is here to stay. It is based on the 1983 Hackney Peace Carnival and depicts carnival-goers marching for peace against ‘The Bomb’, or nuclear warfare. It was renovated and returned to its former glory in 2014. The artwork also features on the front cover of ‘Home’, an album by Hackney drum and bass group Rudimental.
Where? 13 Dalston Lane, Dalston, E8.
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Busk mural at Hackney Wick
Busk is a street artist from Hackney Wick. This mural, unveiled in September 2020 during the first London Mural Festival, is a tribute to the area’s industrial past as well as to the creatives that Hackney attracts today. It depicts an artist holding a paintbrush in front of Busk’s classic graffiti lettering. The border is inspired by old-school adverts for the Clarnico Sweet Factory that once stood here. It is hosted by Hackney Bridge and was created in collaboration with Hackney’s Global Street Art. This piece is said to be a permanent fixture.
Where? Hackney Bridge, Units 1-28, ECHO BUILDING, E Bay Ln, E15 2SJ.
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HIV/AIDS awareness mural on Mare Street
American street artist Shepard Fairey, famous for his “Hope” portrait for Obama’s presidential campaign, created this mural in 2019. The piece is called, ‘We Shape the Future Rose Shackle’, and the aim was to raise awareness for HIV/AIDS as part of the ‘PAINT (RED) SAVE LIVES’ campaign led by a non-profit organisation (RED). Shepard Fairey explained the work to (RED): “We all understand our own pain and can hopefully understand and empathize with pain in others, so the challenge is to not let pain diminish your compassion but use it as fuel to push for better solutions for all of humanity.”
Where? Shian Housing Association, 76 Mare St, Hackney, London E8 3SG
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Stik, Rivington Street (and all over Hackney)
It would be remiss not to mention Stik’s work, which is all over Hackney, London, and even dotted around the globe. He depicts stick people facing contemporary everyday struggles. Stik went from being homeless to becoming a globally renowned street artist. In an interview with The Big Issue he said: “I had carrier bags filled with drawings but when you get evicted from a squat or you get moved on from somewhere, you just lose loads of stuff. For me, painting on the streets was the safest place to keep my art.”
Where? This one is on Rivington Street but Stik works can be found across Hackney including Shoreditch, Hoxton Square and Dalson Lane.
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Planet Hackney in London Fields
A group of artistic housemates, headed by architect Jurek Fryczkowski, came together to create this mural, ‘Planet Hackney’, in 2012. The Hackney Citizen reported that the wall it was painted onto was chosen after crimes in the vicinity encouraged the group to do something positive for the community. Although the mural has faded, it is still a stunning representation of rays of sunshine bursting through a grey wall.
Where? Shrubland Road, Hackney
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Portrait of Theresa, Mare Street, Hackney
This mural was painted by artist James Cochran (a.k.a. Jimmy C) and created in conjunction with the London Mural Festival in 2020. Called ‘Portrait of Theresa’, it depicts a woman who was born in Hackney after her parents emigrated from Sierra Leone. Cochran met her before painting the mural: “What struck me about Teresa was her poised and confident sense of dignity and also the colour and originality of her clothing. I found out that she designs her own clothes. She described fond memories of growing up in Hackney and said that Ridley Road was essentially part of her DNA.”
Where? Mare Street, Hackney.
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Mandala mural, St Matthew’s Row
This Hackney mural was painted by Luke Grey, a surrealist artist who lived in Hackney for most of his life. Born colour-blind, he paints almost exclusively in black and white, focussing on patterns and texture. “According to Buddhist scripture, mandalas transmit positive energies to the environment and to the people who view them; they are believed to purify and heal,” he said. “It’s dedicated to my good friend Song who passed away in October 2020.” The space is owned by Blank Walls and they rotate the art on display regularly. A collaboration between Rosie Woods & Sophie Mess is coming towards late March or early April.
Where? St Matthews Row, just off Bethnal Green.
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Thierry Noir, Hackney Wick
Any list of murals in Hackney would be incomplete without a mention of Thierry Noir, the man behind the well-known faces on the Berlin Wall. His charming cartoon-like figures can be found all over Hackney. This one was created before his exhibition, ‘Jazz’, opened in Shoreditch in 2015. Two guitarists were painted over the entrance of Shapes nightclub to welcome partygoers but the club closed a year later.
Where? 117 Wallis Road, Hackney Wick, London E9 5LN
When I was young I would see art everywhere but not realise it was art. Now I am 36 and seeing this article has opened my eyes to the beauty all around me in my city. One day I would like to make my own mural to my friends and family and all of my creative inspirations. I also think it would be good to see more political statements made by mural eg the Uighers in China ?? . Thank you
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