Street art has a way of surprising us all. Turn the corner down one street and you may stumble across a work of art that will change your perspective of the city. In Sheffield, England, there is a new mural brightening up a certain building façade with its thoughtful atmosphere. UK-based artist Elle Koziupa worked in collaboration with Global Street Art to produce this large-scale painting of a young woman sitting before a group of candles.

The piece is aptly titled Prepare to be illuminated. It features five candles in the foreground, all lit, with a young woman leaning in over their flames, seemingly lost in contemplation. The glow from the wicks lights up her face and clothing, casting her in mesmerizing golden light. This is enhanced by the solid black background which encompasses the scene, giving the illusion that the painting is set at night.

Although we do not know exactly where this building is located in Sheffield, and whether it is a quiet street or a busy one, the mural certainly brings a sense of calm to the building façade. Whether you walk past it in the day or after dark, the girl and her candles will remain illuminated for anyone walking by to see and admire. The faraway look in the woman's eyes inspires a dreamy meditation that many can relate to, especially as we hurry through modern life.

Scroll down to see more images of this incredible mural and follow Koziupa on Instagram for updates on their latest projects.

UK-based artist Elle Koziupa brightened up a building in Sheffield with a piece titled Prepare to be illuminated.

The beautiful mural brings a quiet sense of contemplation to the city.

Elle Koziupa: Website | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Elle Koziupa.

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German street artist Hera has just transformed a train platform in Stavanger, Norway, into a work of art. Made in collaboration with the NuArt Festival, Hera's 328-foot-long mural will greet passengers as trains move along the tracks. The stunning piece shows a young girl wearing a backpack and holding onto the tail of a narwhal as if she's ready to be pulled along on her own journey.

Accompanying the image is text that reads, “We all are Birds of Migration. Some With Feathers, Some Without.” These beautiful words add layers of meaning to the piece, which Hera completed over the course of several days. The girl's eyes look straight at the viewer, almost as if she implores us to come along on her voyage. It's a fitting composition for the space, and taps into the itch that many of us have to travel.

For the artist, the piece speak to our inherent need to move about, whether freely or by force. “We all exist today, because our ancestors at some point either freely migrated to greener pastures, more fertile grounds, greater resources and safer living conditions, or were forcibly moved from one place to another at some point in history,” she shares.

“My mural is a tribute to those travelers, nomads, explorers, survivors,” she continues. “There are some voices in society who demand that everyone stay in their place of origin, basically to stay where they were born, ‘where they have come from.' Some even expect not just people but wildlife, and animals, to also forever stay within certain assigned areas and away from others, to never cross fences, respect stop signs and borderlines. What an unnatural thought to have. I wholeheartedly wish people realized how insanely absurd they sound when opposing the most natural, most intrinsic urge of life itself: the freedom of movement. It is life itself.”

This freedom of movement also translates into Hera's creativity, as she also found time to paint smaller artworks throughout Stavanger. Thanks to the NuArt Festival, the city is already dotted with work by famous street artists in addition to Hera's creative touches. From a bird on a unicycle to a cat and mouse sharing a cup of tea while reading books, these small pieces also speak to the different ways in which we may travel, whether physically or mentally.

To see where Hera's own journey will bring her next, follow her artistic travels on Instagram.

German street artist Hera recently completed a 328-foot-long mural along a train platform in Stavanger, Norway.

The work speaks to the inherent human desire to travel.

While in town, Hera also painted several smaller works that are equally charming.

Hera: Instagram

All images by Brian Tallman. My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by NuArt.

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Photo: chrisdorney/Depositphotos

Banksy’s style is known around the world and his works sell for millions at auctions. And yet, the elusive artist’s identity remains one of the biggest mysteries in contemporary art. Now, a recently uncovered interview appears to confirm the artist's first name.

Banksy was interviewed by former BBC arts correspondent Nigel Wrench in summer 2003, regarding the opening of his Turf War show. The reporter then asked the artist if his name was “Robert Banks,” as the The Independent newspaper had reported earlier that week. “It’s Robbie,” the artist responded. While parts of the interview aired that year, not all the material was used, including that revealing bit.

Now, after listening to The Banksy Story, a podcast produced by the BBC on the legacy of the artist, Wrench felt inspired to recover the full interview on a minidisc in his house. Although the podcast had long wrapped production, the discovery of the long-lost interview prompted them to release a bonus episode featuring the never-before heard interview.

One of the most popular theories regarding Banksy's identity point to musician Robert Del Naja of the band Massive Attack. Having emerged from the Bristol arts scene and experimented with graffiti, he has long been rumored to be the artist. Should the interview be taken seriously, the artist would indeed be a “Robbie” or “Robert.” But whether Banks is part of a pseudonym would be up for deliberation.

Still, for those who have long been captivated by Banksy's art, the interview also offers a peek into the artist's creativity. When asked about whether graffiti should be considered vandalism, the artist describes it as a quicker way to make a point. “If it’s done properly it is illegal! But I got a good reaction I think off most people from my work. You know, I’ve even had policemen in the past say they kind of like things about it, but… I just think it’s my right to go out and paint it,” he says.

“And it is equally somebody else’s right to go out and paint over it if they don’t like it, you know? It doesn’t actually take very long with a bucket of white paint to paint over things. I think it’s better if you treat the city like a big playground, you know? It’s there to mess about in, you know?”

You can listen to the complete interview, as well as the 10 episodes of The Banksy Story, on BBC Sounds.

A recently uncovered BBC interview appears to confirm Banksy's first name.

Photo: schlenger86/Depositphotos

When asked by a reporter if his name was “Robert Banks,” the elusive artist replied, “It’s Robbie.”

Photo: IndividualOne/Depositphotos

h/t: [BBC]

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French artist Saype recently brought a positive message of hope to Turkey as part of his Beyond Walls project. Eight months after the devastating Turkey-Syria earthquakes, he made his way to the Hatay province. This area is still struggling to rebuild after the natural disaster, and so Saype decided to find a way to send a message of hope from within the rubble.

After scouting for locations, Saype settled on the municipality of Defne as the location for his artwork. The 8,000-square-foot piece was created using natural pigments made of charcoal and chalk. This is the cornerstone of Saype's work, as he's dedicated to using eco-friendly material for his ephemeral artwork.

In the piece, two hands stretch across a now-vacant lot. Rendered in grayscale, they grip each other tightly. In the corner, a building still stands, battered and bruised from the earthquake. Rooms are exposed to the open air, while the belongings of those who once lived there are strewn about, abandoned in the aftermath. But Saype's hands are a reminder that we are never truly alone. “With my work, I hope I have shown you that there is a lot of work to be done,” Saype told the people of Hatay in a video he published on his last day of work. “But we do not forget, we are together.”

Saype decided to create this work in Turkey as a way to shine a spotlight on the continued effects of the earthquake. In particular, he wanted to execute his piece before the winter, when the harsh temperatures make the living conditions more difficult. And while he was aware of the devastation from what he's read about, he was still struck by the true effects that the earthquake had.

“It's a region of a million people that was completely wiped off the map,” he stated. But it was only when he arrived and started driving around that he realized the true extent of what had occurred. Now, thanks to a limited-edition print of the artwork he painted in Hatay, he's hoping to give back by raising funds for the community.

French artist Saype traveled to Hatay, Turkey, to create his latest piece of art.

He wanted to draw attention to the serious devastation that the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake caused.

 

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A post shared by Saype (@saype_artiste)

To create the artwork, he used natural pigments made from charcoal and chalk.

It's his hope that the artwork will remind the people of Hatay that they are not alone.

He is now selling a limited-edition print of the piece to benefit the local community.

 

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A post shared by Saype (@saype_artiste)

Saype: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Saype.

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Street art can completely change the character of a building. While some artists add pops of abstract color to concrete spaces, others like Alaniz take it a step further by creating surreal scenes. The Argentinian artist travels the world, painting massive murals inspired by human experiences.

One of his most recent pieces, titled Positive Light, was completed in Stornara, Italy. It features a rendering of a woman reaching toward doves flying in through a window while a trio of bats circles her from behind. The symbolism in this piece is based on Alaniz's troubled childhood. “Fears and intrusive thoughts are like bats, they may seem scary, but when you see them under a different light, you come to understand that they aren't as scary as they seem to be at first,” he says. “This wall is about opening a window in your mind to a different approach to life and drive away the thoughts that may be baffling you.”

A mural painted in Bacau, Romania, called Shine, focuses on innocence and creativity. In this piece, a young girl is painting on a pad of paper, and as she creates her work of art, a bouquet of flowers and birds burst from the page and illuminate the dark room. “By finding our way to our authentic self and by connecting to our own creativity and imagination we can always find the light, even in the darkest instances of life,” the post explains. Other murals by Alaniz possess a similar emotional quality, encompassing buildings with colorful scenes of life.

You can purchase available artwork and limited-edition prints via Street Art Place, and keep up to date with Alaniz's latest pieces by following him on Instagram.

Argentinian artist Alaniz creates dreamy murals on the sides of buildings.

These massive installations depict surreal scenes inspired by the surroundings.

Alaniz travels the world and creates murals in different countries.

Alaniz: Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Alaniz.

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French artist JR continues transforming famous sites into stunning illusions with an installation at Paris' famed opera house. The façade of Palais Garnier was turned into a stage for all to enjoy. Over the course of four evenings, lyrical performances and dance related to the opera were projected onto the installation.

This is the first of two consecutive installations that the Paris Opera has commissioned from the well-respected artist. The pieces take advantage of the restoration work being carried out at Palais Garnier, giving JR a blank canvas for his work. The installation takes inspiration from Plato's philosophical allegory of the cave, a place whose exit provides access to knowledge and understanding of the world.

The piece is titled Retour à la caverne – Act I – L’entrée de la caverne and is visible until September 25. Then, in November, JR will once again create a masterpiece for the theater. For this second installation, the façade will be replaced by a giant embroidered stage curtain. The public will be asked to try their hand at embroidery, free of charge, thus contributing to the installation.

“In Act I, Palais Garnier appears to be stuck between two times,” shares the artist. “At first glance, the building seems to be in ruins, a reflection of the fragility and eternity of Parisian monuments. But upon closer inspection, the piece can also be interpreted as a work of art in permanent construction. Alongside the century-old building and natural formations, contemporary scaffolding is present, a nod to the real and necessary work that physically supports this installation and monument.”

The piece is a beautiful celebration of classical art and philosophy given a contemporary twist by JR. On September 16 and September 17, the public also enjoyed a mix of pieces from Boléro, La Traviata, and Les Contes d’Hoffmann among the scenes on view.

French street artist JR has created yet another illusion. This time the Paris Opera has asked him to transform the façade of Palais Garnier.

 

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A post shared by JR (@jr)

During select evenings, performances were projected into the enormous cave, which thus became a stage.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by JR (@jr)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by JR (@jr)

JR: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Palais Garnier.

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Photo: ehrlif/Depositphotos

Nature can be an artist, filling our world with sweeping colors and shapes. Not only that, but it seems like it can also be a creative patron of the arts as well. The “Whale Tower” mural, which decorates Detroit's Broderick Tower, has been covered by an ad for almost two years. However, during a recent thunderstorm, the advertisement on top of the mural became severely damaged, making way for the ocean-themed painting beneath it to shine once again.

This large-scale piece was created by Michigan-born artist Robert Wyland in 1997. Painted on the rear façade of Broderick Tower in Downtown Detroit, the mural covers 20 floors of the 34-story building, depicting a group of whales swimming in the ocean. On top of its prime location within the city, its vicinity to Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers baseball team, allowed fans to gaze at the painting from the stadium stands.

However, its coveted spot also came with significant marketing desirability, and so the mural has been covered by ads on and off since 2006. The most recent takeover began in November 2021, when a Rocket Companies advertisement featuring illustrations by artist Phillip Simpson was placed over it. While the image included the message “Detroit is Home,” as well as the work of a local creator, the community didn't feel comfortable with seeing their familiar “Whale Tower” hidden away.

Then, in late August, a bout of bad weather hit the Detroit area. During the storm, the Rocket Companies ad was ripped in half. As the pieces flapped in the breeze, locals were able to catch the first peek at the whales in a long time. A few days later, the remnants of the vinyl ad were removed—and so Wyland's piece recovered its spot in the Detroit skyline.

“It’s ironic,” Steve Creech, president of the Wyland Foundation, told the Detroit Free Press. “After years of contention, soda ads, car ads, appeals to the state supreme court, and Rocket Mortgage completely disregarding any communication with us to find another building for their ad instead of covering up a legacy work of public art, it finally took Mother Nature to step in and say, ‘Let me handle this.’”

It's still unclear whether the ad will be replaced, but Creech calls for the leasers to use this as a moment of reflection. “We really hope this incident gives the advertisers pause. If you look at water pollution, declining biodiversity, and the worsening climate change, humanity hasn't exactly been doing the planet any favors lately,” he said. “So, there's something rather poignant about the timing for the return of the mural. Maybe the advertisers will finally consider letting the mural serve the purpose Wyland intended: to remind people that no matter where we live, we are always intrinsically connected to nature.”

While Simpson's art also deserves the spotlight—especially as a Black artist whose work is dedicated to spreading love and joy—there should be room for both creators to be admired without the work of one covering the other, and without corporate messaging shadowing a powerful message about taking care of the natural world.

The “Whale Tower” mural, which decorates Detroit's Broderick Tower, has been covered by an ad for almost two years.

 

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Una publicación compartida por Art By Phillip Simpson (@artbyphillipsimpson)

However, during a recent thunderstorm, the advertisement on top of the mural became severely damaged–making way for the oceanic-themed mural beneath it to shine once again.

Photo: Wirestock/Depositphotos

h/t: [Detroit Free Press]

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Graffiti artist Ant Steel has always enjoyed using his art to bring joy to the community. And now, as an artist in residence at England's St. Albans Cathedral, he's able to interact with the public in a whole new way. Over the course of the year, Steel has been leading workshops and creating his own artwork for an exhibition inside the cathedral that will be held in November.

As Britain's oldest site of continuous Christian worship, St. Albans may seem like an unconventional place for an artist like Steel. But, as Steel points out, it's actually a perfect pairing. Graffiti dates back to ancient times—one only needs to visit Pompeii to find examples—so, in this sense, they aren't that far off from one another. In either case, Steel, who has a background in graphic design, knows just how powerful public art can be. And he's happy to share those lessons with others.

While taking immense inspiration from the classical environment of St. Albans, Steel is also spurred on by the workshops and events he holds as an artist in residence. Over the course of his time at St. Albans, he has guided local children and adults through the steps to produce their own pieces of graffiti art. It's something that has given him a new sense of purpose.

“There are many things I could be doing in my career, but honestly, nothing I’d rather be doing than this right now,” he tells My Modern Met. “The Cathedral staff have been so welcoming and excited for me to join them this year. I already feel deeply connected. Seeing students connect to the art in workshops is amazing.”

Steel understands the power of graffiti art and the responsibility that goes along with it. For him, taggers and those who spray over other people's art lack basic respect. That's why he's keen to teach a new generation of artists that creating public art also comes with a commitment to respect others and their space.

All of Steel's work will culminate in a November exhibition that will bring together the work painted on boards during the workshops, as well as Steel's own pieces. It's something that has never been seen before in the Cathedral, which has run an artist-in-residence program since 2018.

“The Cathedral has long been a patron of arts and is keen to support local artists,” shares Kevin Walton, the Cathedral’s canon chancellor. “Ant Steel’s fresh and engaging artistic offer and his dedicated approach to community work matched our vision.”

Long term, Steel's involvement is part of a broad plan for the Cathedral to become a place of community and culture within St. Albans, taking it beyond its purpose as a site of worship.

Graffiti artist Ant Steel is the 2023 resident artist at England's St. Albans Cathedral.

The cathedral is Britain's oldest site of continuous Christian worship.

Photo: lenschanger/Depositphotos

As part of this residency, Steel is producing his own work for an exhibition in November.

And, in addition, he's holding numerous graffiti workshops for kids in the local community.

Their works will also be part of the exhibition, which will take place inside the cathedral.

Ant Steel: Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Ant Steel.

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UK-based artist Sophie Mess is transforming urban spaces one mural at a time. Inspired by botanical motifs, she covers the sides of buildings with vibrant depictions of flowers that are larger than life. Each one imbues these cityscapes with uplifting and beautifying imagery.

From massive pink peonies to purple irises, Mess' works cover a rainbow of colors. Rather than decorating walls with numerous blooms, however, she lets a couple, or sometimes even just one bloom, encompass the flat surface. She lets the form of flowers take center stage so that people have a rare close-up look at botanicals that they often take for granted.

“I create vibrant botanical-inspired artworks, bringing the colorful beauty of nature to the urban landscape, transforming spaces, and inspiring positivity,” Mess tells My Modern Met. Most of her works appear amid cityscapes, occupying the sides of apartment buildings, shops, and other structures. By placing her art here, Mess is breathing new life into urban landscapes, and bringing a bit of nature even where there is less of it.

You can purchase original paintings and prints via her online shop, and keep up to date with Mess' work by following the artist on Instagram.

UK-based artist Sophie Mess creates exquisite flower murals.

She covers the sides of buildings with larger-than-life depictions of blooms.

These works transform urban spaces with color and beautiful imagery.

Mess' murals also bring a bit of nature into urban spaces.

Her art can be seen in cities across the UK and Europe.

Sophie Mess: Website | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Sophie Mess.

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French street artist Nerone has created the UK's largest clean-air mural in Southampton. Painted on The Bulb, a new hub for the STEM community, the piece shows a woman covered in colorful flowers. And best of all, the nearly 11,000-square-foot mural is not only aesthetically pleasing but also environmentally friendly.

To create his masterpiece, Nerone used Graphenstone CO2-absorbing paint. The lime-based paint naturally absorbs CO2 as it cures, and Nerone estimates that it will pull about 145 pounds of carbon dioxide from the air annually. That's the equivalent of about three mature trees.

In terms of the subject matter, the piece is a continuation of other portraits Nerone has painted. It features his fiancée Frankie, who has also appeared in his murals in South Korea, Colombia, France, and Turkey. This is the second time she's appeared in a mural in the UK, as Nerone also used her as his muse for a mural in London.

Covered in colorful flowers, she brightens up the environment and transforms this concrete office building into a joyful site. It was important for Nerone to add some color to the space, as the building is clearly visible from nearby Southampton station.

It took 17 days for the French artist and a team from Lawless Studios to complete the piece. The community was also highly involved, thanks to a series of community events and workshops that ran concurrently. And while it was hard work, Nerone is pleased with the outcome.

“It would be amazing that people realize we can do beautiful things,” Nerone says, “bringing a positive message while we preserve and improve our environment.”

French street artist Nerone completed an 11,000-square-foot mural in Southampton, UK.

Created using lime-based paint, it will absorb an estimated 145 pounds of CO2 annually.

It took the artist 17 days, together with a team, to complete the environmentally friendly mural.

All images via Hannah Judah. My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Nerone.

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