The most well renowned place for street art is around Brick Lane and Shoreditch. This part of East London is a mecca for talent with artists travelling there from all over the world. Banksy, Roa, Stik, Malarky, Dscreet, Jim Vision and D*Face are just a few of the names associated with the area. There are truly incredible pieces to be found and, while organised tours are available, I took to the streets with my camera with a view to capturing some of the creativity.
Aldgate East tube made a great starting point as you just head down Whitechapel High Street to Osbourn Street which subsequently leads into Brick Lane. The first piece that caught my eye was in Chicksand Street by UnKolorDistinto artists Sammy Espinosa and Cynthia Aguilera.
A little further up Brick Lane around the Heneage Street and Princelet Street area was a wonderful bird by Mateus Bailon and the Three Wise Monkeys by Lost Monkey and a wonderful fish mural by Pez.
As if that wasn’t enough, Hanbury Street was a feast for the eyeballs with artwork by Lily Mixe, Dscreet along one of my favourites – a brilliant mural by Elian Chali and Alexis Diaz. There are of course the magnificent three story high pieces by Martin Ron and Roa to be discovered too. Not that you’ll miss them! 
There is much to see in Hanbury Street and you only have to walk a few steps to find it. I liked the Pang and Christiaan Nagel collaboration ‘The Death of Ego’ and the lady with green hair mural by Bicicleta Sem Freio is just brilliant. 
Having made my way back up Hanbury Street, I continued up Brick Lane checking out the adjacent streets as I did so. Definitely do this, there is a lot more to see away from the crowds where there is more wall space. These are just a few examples from in and around Buxton Street.
From there I headed towards the railway line which led into Pedley Street. I first laid my eyes on the elephant installation by Fanakapan and a magical looking mural. Next to that was an artist creating something rather magical – Jim Vision creating a scene from Star Wars.
He was chatting to a local so I didn’t get to speak to him but just witnessing the beginnings of this mural was amazing. I heard him say he had 4-5 days to go and look at his Star Wars prints, I can only imagine must look incredible now.
I then headed left up Pedley Street where I discovered an alley of colour and an amazing mural on the Kinkao wall by Bom.K. It depicts character in a protective hazmat suit as it fills with toxins and was created almost entirely from spray paint.
Other artists that feature include Kyle Hughes, Fabio Lopez, Jay Kaes, Vova Zomb, Haus and Zabu. There was much to see in Cheshire Street and Bacon Street too including Ben Slow’s portrait of Charlie Burns who, as the oldest resident, is known as the King of Brick Lane. Next to it a portrait by Jimmy C of Mick who is another resident.
So that’s the end of our whistle-stop tour around Brick Lane with perhaps a few too many photographs! Check back soon to check out what creative talent we saw on our wander around Shoreditch.
All photography by Charly Dove
Wow what a fab post and some amazing street art! When we are next in London I would love to check this area out – it is an outdoor art gallery! xx
Such fantastic art, I knew there was some there but I had no idea there was so much. I’m impressed that you know the names of the artists, I’d have to go on a tour to fully appreciate it I think.
What a fab resource. Me and the boys love street art. Well I love art of any kind and am planning a trip to our local modern art museum with them over the holidays. I love what would have once been grafitti has morphed in to something so beautiful
Wow! This is incredible art and photography! You are super talented!
Amazing!! My Mum and Dad had a few days in London last week and did a self guided walking tour of the Shoreditch street art – she took some amazing photos too – really want to go and see it all for myself soon!
My kind of street! I could spend some time here:) Great captures!
Great photos, we visited Brick Lane a while back to look at the street art but I guess lots of it will have changed by now so maybe time for a revisit.
Are these mostly or all legal, as opposed to underground, street art works? I know that the underground art tends to disappear pretty quickly – either removed by the owners or painted over by other artists. Which is a shame in a way, but in another way makes it more vibrant, knowing that it only exists for a short while – a brief burst of colour popping up amidst the grey concrete, seen by only a few, like a scarlet poppy blooming and full of life and then suddenly gone.
How come you know who did the artwork? Is this all documented somewhere by people “in the know”? Or are you just one of those people?
Definitely not too many photographs, by the way! Some really fab photography here.
Many thanks for your comment Margaret. As far as I’m aware the street art in Brick Lane is all legal with artists travelling in for festivals from around the world. I’m sure it’s controlled in some way but it’s not something I’m familiar with, I just love photographing it. Some of the pieces do get replaced which is sad but as you say it does make the area more vibrant and ensures we all return. There are a few pieces that have been around since 2011/12 though which is nice. It’s a fabulous sight, most of these works are on Brick Lane or just off it – I found more wandering the side streets! I was conscious of crediting the artists so I researched who’d done what – some of the popular creations have been mentioned elsewhere I’m sure. I must do the same for a Shoreditch street art post that’s coming which includes a couple of Banksy creations. Thank you on the photography front, very kind 🙂
Thanks for taking the time to respond. I look forward to seeing the Shoreditch post. I hear it’s very fashionable.