There are colourful corners to explore all over South East London. Brilliantly curated murals can be found hidden away throughout the area, with more and more local artists being tempted to the South East by the creative community and the plentiful blank canvas walls.
Here are a few of our favourite pieces we’ve discovered whilst wandering the streets near our stores.
DAVID BOWIE by Jimmy Cochran
Location: Tunstall Road, SW9
Adelaide street artist Jimmy Cochran painted this iconic David Bowie mural back in 2013. The vibrant painting has since become a worldwide phenomenon, with people traveling from all over to lay flowers and pay respect to the Brixton born superstar. Every year on Bowie’s birthday locals gather to pay their respects and we play his iconic tunes in both of our stores to celebrate his legendary legacy.
FIGHT CLUB by Conor Harrington
Location: Spurling Road, opposite The East Dulwich Tavern, SE22 8EW
Opposite the East Dulwich Tavern hides one of the area's most prominent murals, Fight Club, painted in 2013 by Irish street artist Conor Harrington. Relating the violence of his scene conceptually to 'Massacre of the Innocents' 1660 by Charles le Brun, this painting is the beginning of an international series of murals where the fight between these two men continues… Spotted any of the other fight scenes on your travels? Let us know!
LADY DIGBY ON HER DEATHBED by Mad C
Location: The Plough Inn, SE22
This eye-catching piece by German artist Mad C can be found at the top of Lordship Lane, in the car park of The Plough Inn. Inspired by the classic painting ‘Venetia, Lady Digby, on her Deathbed’ by Sir Anthony Van Dyck (1633), the blue colours make the perfect backdrop for street photography on a sunny day. The figure of the woman is depicted in an abstract way, with the withering rose and its falling petals painted with impressive realism. This made the perfect backdrop to showcase our winter coats earlier this year.
PECKHAM LEVELS MURAL by Phlegm
Location: The courtyard outside Peckham Levels, SE15
Beneath the old car park now home to Peckham Levels you can find Sheffield-born muralist Phlegm's signature black and white creatures lurking in the shadows. These characters seem to be taming a mystical polar bear-like animal, with ropes and towering buildings forming a whimsical background for the painting.
ANOTHER CLASSIC from Phlegm
Location: Goodrich Road, SE22
On Goodrich Road, you can find another piece painted by Phlegm back in 2013 in collaboration with The Dulwich Picture Galleries ‘The Streets Festival’. Phlegm has painted one of his signature creatures with incredible detail, adding laces to his boots, spiraling patterns to his outfit and adorning him with an extravagant instrument. We’re biased, but we think he’d look cracking in a pair of our SS22 Karhus!
THE VIRGIN ON THE ROSARY by Mear One
Location: Painted on the side of The Lordship Pub, on Pellet Road, SE22
Mear One (Kalen Ockerman) has been at the forefront of LA’s graffiti and mural culture for nearly three decades. He is famous for having pioneered the Melrose graffiti art movement in the late 80s and is considered by many to be LA’s most prolific public muralist. On the side of The Lordship Pub on Pellet Road, you can find an impressive mural by Mear One. Painted back in 2013, this powerful piece is a modern take on The Virgin on the Rosary by Bartolomé Estéban Murillo (c. 1765-1760).
PRIVATE COMMISSIONED ABSTRACT MURAL by Remi Rough
Location: Matham Grove, SE22
Anyone can paint abstract, but few people can make it say something like artist Remi Rough can. Just around the corner from our womenswear store on Lordship Lane, you can find a large wall covered in bold abstract shards painted by Remi back in 2021. We love how the shapes transition from cobalt blue, to fuschia, to a sunny yellow.
New murals are popping up all the time. Have we missed one of your favourites? Let us know! We’re always on the lookout for new shoot backdrops and fully support artists expressing their creativity on the streets of SE London.
Much Love,
MB x