Arts and lighting projects

A series of artworks are coming to Brixton as part of a three-year scheme run by Lambeth Council. We are working with local artists on a number of exciting and innovative projects to improve the town centre through art and encourage more visitors and shoppers. These arts and lighting projects celebrate local landmarks and heritage are helping to improve the physical environment and support small local businesses.

The scheme is part of the Future Brixton regeneration programme. Artworks involving local artists are being installed in Brixton over the coming months in locations such as Electric Avenue, Electric Lane, Coldharbour Lane and Brixton Road as suggested by you during consultation in the summer of 2009.

Brixton Speaks

Artist, author and local resident Will Self has produced a work that celebrates the rich and diverse language of Brixton. Will spent a month in early summer listening to conversations in and around Brixton Market, along Electric Lane and Brixton Road. The unique sounds, words and conversations that he heard are displayed on a dynamic light installation on Electric Avenue by the side of Iceland.

Will says, “Brixton Speaks is an artwork intended to reflect the people who live, work and shop in Brixton Market and its environs the way they themselves speak. The aim of Brixton Speaks is not to antagonise, shock, or distort, but simply to mirror the great vigour, invention and diversity of Brixtonians.”

Foxes and cherries

Artist and local resident Lucy Casson has created a new public art display (partly made from recycled materials) in the heart of Brixton Market. The foxes and cherries can be seen high on the rooftops above the market on the south-west corner of Electric Avenue and Electric Lane.

Lucy says "Electric Avenue is the perfect place for these foxes to scavenge cherries from the market. I like the way foxes live among us; they are part of the layers of London."

Brixton Heron

A new sculpture by Maggi Hambling was unveiled on 15 July 2010 above the The Prince and Dex nightclub building at the corner of Brixton Road and Coldharbour Lane.

The sculpture was created to celebrate Brixton's history and the herons that used to populate the River Effra, which now runs below ground.

Maggi said: "Making a new public sculpture for London is an exciting challenge. Brixton is a place to be celebrated for its cultural heritage and the cutting-edge vitality of its street-life. The Brixton Heron pays tribute to the spirit of Lambeth where I have always worked."

Dominic Madden CEO of Kingdom Entertainment Group, which runs Dex Club and The Prince pub said: "We are very pleased to have a sculpture by Maggi Hambling on the beautiful rooftop terrace of our building. Not only does art make local people feel good about the area, it helps us generate business and visitors."

Tunstall Road stone carving

The first arts project to be installed was created by local artist Marcia Bennett Male. Her intricately carved work is located opposite the tube entrance in Tunstall Road which is used as a market. Marcia presented three options to local traders who were given a choice on their preferred design.

New trees and improved lighting completed the improvements to this area.

Shutters Project  

As part of Brixton Arts Project local artists have produced designs for vinyl enhancements to the shutters of businesses along Coldharbour Lane. 

The first of these enhancements to the shutters was created by local artist Zineb Sedira and is located at Clearvision opticians on the corner of Electric Lane and Coldharbour Lane.

The second, which shows a historical image of Coldharbour Lane as it used to be (kindly donated by the Brixton Society), is also now in place at the Phoenix Cafe.

A third, is at Bookmongers, Brixton's popular second-hand bookstore. Several other businesses are also currently having their shutters improved as part of the same project.

More arts and lighting projects

Other schemes that have been developed with the local community to support local businesses involve: 

• local history experts, the Brixton Society, provided some antique images of Brixton for use on some of the Coldharbour Lane shutters, an example of which can be seen on the Phoenix Cafe
• refugees produced art in association with Oval House Theatre Group and local company Photofusion
• restoration of the Egyptian themed entrance to  Reliance Arcade on Electric Lane
• framed artworks by local artists on Electric Lane.

A lick of paint for Brixton town centre 

Lick of paint was one of the first of these arts projects which involved us listening to your ideas throughout the summer of 2009.

Visitors to the arts area of the 35th annual Lambeth Country Show in July 2009 were asked to comment on locations in the centre of Brixton which they would like to see given a 'lick of paint' or where they would like to see public art.

Also on Wednesday 5 and Saturday 8 August 2009 the Future Brixton team asked residents their thoughts on the lick of paint project and also opinions on mock-ups of potential artworks.