Gentrification is reshaping Hackney, and young people are increasingly unable to see themselves reflected in the neighbourhoods they grew up in. Hackney Council asked us to create a permanent piece of public art that re-centred their voices, a stand that represented the identities, culture and energy of the next generation.
To ensure the mural felt true to the people it represented, we hosted workshops with local young creatives and youth clubs across Hackney. Through conversations, sketching sessions and collaborative exploration, we uncovered the symbols, stories and themes that captured what “home” meant to them not as nostalgia, but as a protest against erasure.
A bold, permanent mural co-created with young people designed to honour them and reclaim space in a borough changing around them.
The mural now stands as a visible landmark for Hackney youth, offering them a place of recognition and pride. It also sparked renewed conversation within the community about representation, belonging and who gets to be seen in public space.
The work resonated because it didn’t speak for young people, it was shaped by them. By grounding the mural in their stories, creativity and lived experience, it became an artwork that reflects the Hackney they know.
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Gentrification is reshaping Hackney, and young people are increasingly unable to see themselves reflected in the neighbourhoods they grew up in. Hackney Council asked us to create a permanent piece of public art that re-centred their voices, a stand that represented the identities, culture and energy of the next generation.
To ensure the mural felt true to the people it represented, we hosted workshops with local young creatives and youth clubs across Hackney. Through conversations, sketching sessions and collaborative exploration, we uncovered the symbols, stories and themes that captured what “home” meant to them not as nostalgia, but as a protest against erasure.
A bold, permanent mural co-created with young people designed to honour them and reclaim space in a borough changing around them.
The mural now stands as a visible landmark for Hackney youth, offering them a place of recognition and pride. It also sparked renewed conversation within the community about representation, belonging and who gets to be seen in public space.
The work resonated because it didn’t speak for young people, it was shaped by them. By grounding the mural in their stories, creativity and lived experience, it became an artwork that reflects the Hackney they know.
