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    Banksy’s New Piece in Marseille Becomes a Tribute to Memory and Loss

    On a quiet wall in Marseille, Banksy has once again transformed urban space into a mirror of human emotion. This time, the message hits closer to the heart. On Rue Félix Frégier, a freshly stenciled black lighthouse now rises from a beige wall, accompanied by the words:“I want to be what you saw in me.”It’s unclear whether the piece is a universal reflection or a deeply personal statement, but for those of us who’ve followed Banksy’s work for decades, this one carries the unmistakable weight of loss. Word has spread that this piece is linked to the memory of an old friend of the artist, someone who passed away recently. If true, it adds another layer of meaning to an already haunting intervention.At first glance, the lighthouse stands alone, quiet and symbolic. But step back and the composition reveals its brilliance. It’s a trick of shadow. The bollard in front of the wall casts a real shadow and Banksy has extended it into illusion. The lighthouse is not a structure, but a shadow, rising from something mundane. It’s not there, and yet it is. Just like the memory of someone who once saw the best in you.This makes the accompanying text all the more poignant.Not “I am what you saw in me,” but“I want to be.”It’s a promise. A regret. A longing.📍 Why Marseille?Marseille has always been a city of in-betweens. A place where ships dock, where people arrive and leave. A city steeped in movement and memory. There’s no more fitting location for a tribute like this where a bollard, a wall, and a shadow become a lighthouse not just in form, but in spirit.✅ Verified LocationThe work was revealed Thursday on Banksy’s official Instagram. Though its exact location was initially a mystery, it sits quietly on Rue Félix Frégier in Marseille. No barriers. No plaques. Just raw emotion, open to the street.As someone who’s seen thousands of interventions on walls around the world, I can say with certainty. This isn’t a mural for attention. It’s a piece of mourning. A whispered tribute. A lighthouse for someone who once saw the light in him and maybe in all of us. More

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    Wall to Wall Festival 2025 in Mordialloc, Australia

    Wall to Wall Festival, Australia’s most beloved regional street art celebration, returns this April for a vibrant weekend of colour, creativity, and community. Curated and produced by the renowned Juddy Roller—the team behind landmark projects like the Silo Art Trail and Collingwood Housing Project—this year’s event will see Mordi Village in Mordialloctransformed into a spectacular open-air art gallery from Saturday 5 to Sunday 6 April.The 2025 program brings together ten of the world’s most exciting street artists, who will double the precinct’s existing mural count. These large-scale works will turn walls, laneways, and unexpected corners into captivating visual experiences, breathing fresh life into the bayside village. From abstract wonderlands to hyper-detailed realism, this year’s muralists promise a diverse and exciting showcase of global talent and local storytelling.Festival-goers can look forward to headline artist Drez, whose immersive “portal” artwork invites viewers into dreamy, otherworldly dimensions. Internationally acclaimed Smug will deliver jaw-dropping, hyper-realistic pieces, while Minna Leunig—a Victorian artist and daughter of the late Michael Leunig—will present poetic, thought-provoking works. LA-based muralist and illustrator Lauren YS, celebrated for their bold exploration of identity and queerness, will turn a vintage 1980s Porsche 911 into a moving psychedelic artwork.Joining the lineup are artists such as Bidju, a First Nations creative fusing traditional motifs with contemporary design, and Ellen Porteus, whose hyper-colour aesthetic blends illustration, animation, and mural art. Claudio Mantuano, a local Kingston favourite, adds a playful touch, while graffiti legend Sofles showcases his intricate and technically ambitious murals. Rounding out the list are Jason Parker, known for his vibrant, emotionally charged palette, and Jasmine Crisp, an emerging painter from Adelaide whose oil-based works explore identity, memory, and culture.More than just murals, Wall to Wall offers an immersive cultural experience. Visitors can enjoy guided art tours, interactive workshops, market stalls, face painting, and live music, along with a community “paint-by-numbers” wall perfect for families. Mordi’s local art space Le Studio will also feature works by 12 local artists, and festival partner St Felix will launch a custom gin bottle designed by Drez. Held on the final weekend of daylight savings and the start of the school holidays, Wall to Wall is the perfect way to celebrate the transformative power of street art by the bay.Check out below for more photos of the festival. More

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    New Mural by SATR in Réunion Island, France

    During the vibrant Réunion Graffiti Festival, artist SATR painted a breathtaking mural that celebrates nature’s raw beauty and energy. Inspired by the crashing waves and striking volcanoes of Réunion Island, this artwork captures the island’s pristine landscape and spirit. The dynamic, smoke-like contours of the mural create a mesmerizing sense of motion, as if the powerful horse itself is alive and leaping off the wall. SATR’s masterful use of spray paint, combined with the striking pops of red, makes this piece truly unforgettable.SATR shared how deeply moved she was by the natural splendor of the island and the warmth of the people she met: “The crashing waves and striking volcanoes took my breath away. I’ll always remember its pristine beauty and the amazing people I met here.”SATR, who lives and works in Guangzhou, has been a key figure in street art since 2013. Known for her innovative atomization spray technique, SATR creates animals with dynamic movement and ethereal, smoky edges. Her work blends the boldness of Western graffiti with the delicate elegance of Eastern-style ink and wash painting, balancing tradition and modernity. The strong Oriental influence in her art is further underscored by the use of ancient seal-engraved signatures, a respectful nod to her roots.Réunion Island’s stunning landscapes and SATR’s singular artistry have come together to produce a mural that speaks to both nature’s power and the beauty of human creativity.Stay tuned and follow us for more street art updates from around the globe! More

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    Coverage: “Life in the Fast Lane” Tyrrell Winston Solo Exhibition at Volery Gallery, Dubai, UAE

    Known for his ability to reimagine discarded objects, Winston brings his unique aesthetic to Volery with works that explore the emotional and physical toll of greatness. His punishment paintings reflect the endless repetition and unseen effort required to achieve success, emphasizing the sacrifice inherent in both athletic and artistic pursuits. These works are raw and deliberate, capturing the discipline and resilience needed to navigate high-pressure environments.Winston’s basketball installations—crafted from salvaged balls and nets—highlight the artist’s ongoing fascination with transformation and nostalgia. By repurposing materials that have long outlived their intended purpose, he elevates them into symbols of persistence and perseverance, challenging viewers to see beauty and meaning in the overlooked.This exhibition marks an important milestone for Volery Gallery as it continues to introduce bold and globally recognized artists to the region. For Winston, it represents an expansion of his artistic reach, engaging with a new audience while showcasing his ability to tap into universal themes.While Winston is best known for his thoughtful recontextualization of everyday items, Life in the Fast Lane reinforces his talent for combining cultural critique with deeply personal narratives. Through his work, he bridges the gap between contemporary art and popular culture, making his pieces both accessible and profound.Life in the Fast Lane has already generated buzz for its compelling storytelling and striking visuals. Visitors to Volery Gallery are invited to experience Winston’s thought-provoking works firsthand and immerse themselves in his exploration of endurance, repetition, and transformation.The exhibition will be on view until December 12, 2024.Take a look below for more photos of Life in the Fast Lane exhibition More

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    “Life in the Fast Lane” Solo Exhibition by Tyrrell Winston at Volery Gallery in Dubai, UAE

    Street art meets sports culture in Tyrrell Winston’s highly anticipated solo exhibition, Life in the Fast Lane, set to open on November 16, 2024, at Volery Gallery in Dubai. Known for his distinctive style that transforms discarded objects—such as deflated basketballs and vintage sports memorabilia—into powerful artworks, Winston’s pieces invite viewers to reconsider the beauty in the overlooked and the narratives within everyday items.Life in the Fast Lane features ten new “punishment paintings” and two iconic basketball installations, showcasing Winston’s deep connection to the themes of resilience, identity, and legacy in sports. This exhibition explores the parallels between athletes and artists, highlighting the often unseen sacrifices and relentless determination that drive both to greatness.With a unique approach that combines fine art with street culture, Winston has captured the attention of major American institutions, including the Whitney Museum and MOCA. Now, he brings his celebrated work to the Middle East for the first time, creating a new dialogue within Dubai’s dynamic art scene.Adding to the exhibition’s excitement, Winston will be in attendance at the opening, alongside special guest Emeric Tchatchoua, creative director of the Paris-based fashion brand 3Paradis. This blend of art, sports, and high fashion promises to make Life in the Fast Lane an unforgettable experience.Exhibition Details:•Opening Date: November 16, 2024•Location: Volery Gallery, Maze Tower, Dubai International Financial Center•Exhibition Duration: November 16 – December 12, 2024Join us as we celebrate Tyrrell Winston’s unique vision, where the spirit of the streets meets the heart of the gallery. Don’t miss this opportunity to witness his work firsthand!Tyrrell Winston, Going Pro Is Not A Mirage, 2024. Used basketballs, liquid plastic, steel, epoxy, 111.8 x 137.2 x 22.9 cm More

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    “Tales” by Aleksi Ivanov in Bucharest, Romania

    Bulgarian artist Aleksi Ivanov recently brought the streets of Bucharest to life with his mural Tales, as part of the BSBSA (Belgrade Sofia Bucharest Street Art) project. Known for his multidisciplinary approach and public art interventions, Ivanov’s week-long visit was filled with creative workshops, an artist talk, and the development of this expansive mural that explores shared folklore of the Balkan region.The mural, Tales, vividly represents the rich, interconnected folklore traditions of Romania, Bulgaria, and Serbia. Ivanov has skillfully woven together mythical characters and modern urban elements, including figures like Karakondzul, Rusalka, and the Giant, alongside symbolic references to vampires, dragons, and graffiti artists. He even pays tribute to the local street art scene by incorporating elements from Bucharest’s graffiti culture, like a subway adorned with tags by well-known artists Mser and Erps. These details give the mural a vibrant, multilayered appeal that invites viewers to find their own interpretations.During his residency in Bucharest, Ivanov shared his process and insights with the public. His street art workshop and artist talk allowed participants to engage directly with his experience in large-scale mural projects, public space transformations, and community-driven art. Ivanov’s dedication is clear, with each day of the project requiring up to 14 hours of meticulous work to bring the mural to completion.This initiative, made possible by the Creative Europe program, showcases the BSBSA project’s goal of fostering cultural connections and artistic expression across borders. Supported by local and international partners, Tales offers a dynamic cultural encounter, encouraging residents and visitors alike to explore the stories within the mural.Located at Mihai Bravu Boulevard in Bucharest, Tales stands as a testament to Aleksi Ivanov’s commitment to storytelling through art. To follow more about this project and others like it, visit bsbsa.org and connect on social media platforms. More

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    “ORB” by SpY in Montreal, Canada, After Its Debut in Egypt

    SpY’s stunning “ORB” sculpture, which first captivated audiences at the Pyramids of Giza, has found a new home in Montreal’s Place des Arts. This work, blending formal simplicity with deep symbolism, explores the relationship between art, history, and urban space. The transition from the ancient Egyptian site to a modern cultural hub emphasizes its universal appeal, allowing it to engage with diverse environments and audiences.At the heart of “ORB” is the reimagining of a common urban object—the convex traffic mirror. By multiplying and arranging these mirrors into a spherical pattern, SpY transforms a mundane feature of city life into a thought-provoking work of art. The mirrored surface reflects its surroundings and viewers, creating an ever-changing interaction that evolves throughout the day, prompting contemplation on how art influences and is influenced by urban spaces.Drawing inspiration from Egyptian history, “ORB” references the mathematical and symbolic elements found in the Pyramids. The spherical form hints at the relationship between the Pyramid’s geometry and the concept of ‘pi,’ tying the sculpture to ancient mathematical principles. This connection extends to the circular mirror, a symbol in Egyptian culture linked to the sun, creation, and rebirth.The installation in Montreal highlights the sculpture’s ability to resonate in different contexts, reinforcing its status as a universal artistic symbol. Its reflective surface captures fragments of the city and its inhabitants, inviting viewers to engage in a deeper reflection on their connection to the environment and each other.“ORB” was part of the exhibition Forever Is Now II, organized by Culturvator Art D’Égypte in collaboration with UNESCO. The exhibition juxtaposes ancient heritage with contemporary art, exploring themes that transcend time and encourage us to imagine the future of humanity.Check out more photos of “ORB” in Montreal, Canada, and Egypt below! More

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    Snik – Still Life – Manchester UK

    SNIK have made a strong return to Manchester’s Northern Quarter, unveiling a new 20-meter mural that promises to become yet another iconic landmark in the city. The artists, whose work last appeared in Manchester in 2018, have made a big move with their latest work, entitled Still Life. The mural aims to create a little oasis of calm in the busy city.Still Life blends seamlessly into the area’s creative heritage, while also offering a reminder to appreciate the beauty and tranquility that can be found in our surroundings. SNIK explain; “With Still Life, we wanted to create something that not only enhances the urban landscape but also encourages people to take a step back and appreciate the little things, the moments of calm that we often overlook.”Still Life is an ode to Manchester’s love for street art and serves as a reminder of the city’s dynamic and ever-evolving cultural scene. This new work is set to become a cherished part of Manchester’s artistic heritage, much like its predecessor, Serenity, which remains a solid fixture in the city.Snikstagram More