Renowned East London-based artist Camille Walala has, yet again, captivated the art world with her collaboration with art collective Wood Street Walls to create ‘one of London’s largest-scale public art projects – the transformation of an entire East London street.’ As the artist’s first community-funded project, Walala’s new masterpiece spans Leyton High Road to unleash an explosion of colour, joy and creativity on a street that is otherwise occupied by a rather grey and dull parade of shops. 

With Walala’s determination as an artist to make art accessible and engaging to the public that it serves, the artwork will be community-designed alongside being community-funded. Inviting locals to shape the final design by voting online, the artist’s power to transform a space entirely through her large-scale installations is met with appraisal and positivity every time. 

As the artist notes herself, ‘art and colour have an amazing power to spread positivity, especially at the scale of the street. It’s wonderful to have an opportunity to have such a significant impact on the look and feel of an entire neighbourhood and inspiring to be part of such a community-driven initiative. Waltham Forest is such an exciting and creative area of East London – now it’s going to look the part too. I am really encouraged to see the Mayor getting behind this project. Londoners are joining together to change their local area, and taking charge of the streets with art.’ 

A brilliant example of how crowdfunding can fuel creative ideas and execute spectacular initiatives, Walala Parade comes at the ideal period to inject energy, positivity and spirit at a time when the high street has been hit by the pandemic. With a mission to utilise public art and creativity in order to highlight key social issues, Wood Street Walls’ focus on community perfectly complements Walala’s use of public spaces to transform the urban environment through a bold colour palette and dynamic geometric shapes. There is an undeniable sense of happiness, uplift and energy punctuated through the streets of East London with Walala’s latest awe=inspiring creation. 

camillewalalala.com

woodstreetwalls.co.uk