Have you ever noticed the beautiful displays of artwork on buildings when walking around Sheffield? They are all individually unique and bring Sheffield to life, with many being created by well-known artists. Take a look at some of the artwork below and see if you have ever noticed any of them.
Phlegm’s Reader
Phlegm is a famous wall-artist in Sheffield and has many pieces spread around the city. One that you may have seen is his art of someone reading above Rare and Racy. In one of their blog posts, Phlegm wrote, “Rare and Racy is by far my favourite shop in Sheffield.” The monochrome colour scheme is very intense and the different shades of black and white come to life against the terracotta brick. Although it is only small, it adds character to the building as the shop below is a book shop.
Rob Lee’s ‘Now Then’
This piece will be known by many Sheffield students, especially Sheffield Hallam students. On Hallam Hill is a mural that Rob Lee created to commemorate the Sheffield-based magazine, Now Then. The bright colours are attention-grabbing and very prominent among the dull bricks and soulless grey surroundings. What is unique about this artwork is if you look closely at the top, you can see that Rob Lee has used the architecture of the buildings behind to create an illusion. This makes the building look like it has an eccentric and jagged roof.
Andrew Motion’s poem
Another piece that will be famous among Sheffield Hallam students is the poem on the side of Hallam’s Owen building. It is the first thing many people will see on their way to lessons, on their way to work or on their way into the centre. The silver stanzas really catch your eye when the sun shines on them, drawing your attention to the flawless poem. Andrew Motion wrote that poem as part of the “Off the Shelf festival in 2007”.
Jo Peel’s Howard Street mural
This is quite a new piece of art to grace Sheffield’s walls as it was painted in 2019. On the side of The Howard pub, there used to be a mural showcasing Harry Brearley, the first man in the UK to discover stainless steel. However, in 2018 the mural was vandalised, this happened only five years after the mural was created by Sarah Yates. Jo Peel, a local artist, covered the destroyed wall art with a piece showcasing the industrial history of Sheffield. The dashes of yellow, blue and green are a stunning contrast to the monochrome centrepiece of Sheffield.
Pete McKee’s old lady mural
The old lady has been painted very strikingly with a bold purple coat matched with bright yellow trousers, all on top of an eye-catching pink background. This 2018 mural was part of McKee’sThis class works’ exhibition, a 16-day event that took place in a refurbished factory showcasing McKee’s, and many other artists’, work. There is a sense of familiarity when looking at this mural as it makes me think of my own Grandma.
Have you seen these murals around Sheffield? Is there anymore you would like to show us? Let us know on our Instagram, @thestudentaspect