Ridley Road gateway feature painted to celebrate historic street market
A new gateway feature mural in Dalston’s Ridley Road has been unveiled near the entrance from Kingsland High Street, painted to reflect the cultural history of the landmark Hackney destination, with the aim to draw people into the market and spend money locally.
The striking new artwork marks the completion of an overall £1.5 million joint investment between Hackney Council and the Mayor of London that also included nearby Ashwin Street – delivering improved facilities for traders and better public spaces throughout the market.
The final design, created by Carl Cozier (a.k.a. Holy Moly), was chosen by the traders at the market. With excitement and anticipation growing ahead of the mural’s unveiling this week, the artwork has been well received upon its completion. Matthew Roberts, who has traded in Ridley Road for over 20 years, said: “The mural makes the market a lot brighter.”
Commissioned by Hackney Council to East London art collective Wood Street Walls, the artwork was created in close collaboration with local people, including students at the nearby Colvestone Primary School, who took part in workshops about how murals are made and found out about potential career opportunities in the creative industries.
Ridley Road has been home to the market since the end of 1880s and plays an important part in Hackney’s history and heritage.
The new mural is a fantastic addition to Ridley Road, providing a warm welcome for those who visit, reflecting the buzzing atmosphere and celebrating the diversity and character this much-loved street market is so well known for.
In close collaboration with those who use Ridley Road most, we will continue to act wherever we can to ensure this important Hackney landmark is prioritised and preserved for future generations.
Wood Street Walls have helped facilitate and curate over 200 murals in East London over the last decade.
We are delighted to work with Hackney Council to deliver a key important piece of visual art that the market traders have voted on. We hope this will lead to more demand for murals to enhance the public realm around Ridley Road to support the market traders and businesses in the area.
A massive thank you to Works in Public and Hackney Council for their estimable contribution to implement a colourful mural for Ridley Road and the Market. It has blended selective colours matching that of the market traders retail merchandising units in a clever and artistic way to appeal visitors towards the vicinity. Central London Investments is honoured to approve and to be a part of this major creative project. This has most definitely added a new lease of life and vibrancy to what was once a very dull and uninspired corner.
"The mural speaks for itself as an attractive statement and a masterpiece which will become a staple and a pinpoint for customers to approach the Ridley Road Market, equally bringing attention to Kingsland Shopping Centre, which is accessible to all, for various essential shopping needs to those near and far to visit and hopefully remember. The mural reflects the change and diversity of the area and matches the energy of the surrounding community through art and colour. I think it is a fantastic input to Dalston and hope others will appreciate it.