Take a peek at the art at the Leake
London’s only legal graffiti tunnel at Leake Street Arches in Waterloo has named a winner for its Artist in Residence competition.
Marc Craig, from Croydon, will be hosting a year-long programme under the eight former railway arches beneath Waterloo railway station in a celebration of the community.
The tunnel’s environment has attracted some of the city’s most famous street artists, who have used it as a canvas for their art.
Mr Craig is already a well-known artist in the tunnel for his work including the black and white mural across part of the tunnel roof.
He has also painted murals at a range of venues, including Tate Britain and the Royal College of Art.
In 2016, Mr Craig completed 45 murals and has recently exhibited work in Chelsea and Mayfair.
Mr Craig was chosen for the focus his entry put on the importance of the community being at the heart of his residency.
“I love coming down to Leake Street because you get to work with some amazing people and create some amazing art.
“I can’t wait to get started, this is an amazing opportunity for me to engage with the community and ensure they know the treasure they have on their doorsteps, the world’s best urban gallery!”
During his residency through to April 2024, he will be delivering portraits of the community on the tunnel walls which will also become permanent additions to the online Leake Street Gallery.
The grand finale of the residency will see Marc create a new giant mural along the roof of Leake Street that will be inspired by the individual stories, community workshops and experiences he has over the years.
Graffiti workshops will be held in the tunnel, members of the public will be able to book two hour workshops with Marc where they will have a tour of the tunnel, be taught how to create a graffiti mural and create a Graffiti painting to take home with them.
Trained in textile and ceramic design, he transitioned to large-scale mural works in 2015, garnering recognition for his work with major brands such as Guinness, Wahaca, and Nescafe.
Mr. Craig will also be curating a paint-jam festival in October to celebrate the area.
To book workshops visit https://www.leakestreetarches.london/graffiti-workshops
For more information visit www.marccraig.co.uk /Â www.maxthevirus.com / https://leakestreetgalleries.art
Picture: Marc Craig Picture: Claudia Lee
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