The Art of London Summer Season, which sees a 3-month programme of activity celebrating art in every form across the West End, has kicked off with The Piccadilly Art Takeover, one of the largest art takeovers our city has ever seen.  Created by Art of London in collaboration with the Royal Academy of Arts, Piccadilly and the surrounding areas of the West End have been transformed into a unique and accessible art exhibition.

The event showcases some of the finest artists and architects Britain has to offer; 30 hanging flags and 13 striking pedestrian crossings (the largest number of art crossings to take place in one area) have been created, as well as weekly takeovers of the 780 sqm Piccadilly Lights and, for the first time, audiences will be able to access and participate in a special Augmented Reality 10-Screen Experience and Audio Sync via their mobile phones, making this a truly interactive, accessible and utterly exciting experience.

Five artists associated with the Royal Academy have created these fantastic large-scale pieces for Piccadilly’s ‘gallery without walls’.  Axel Rüger, Secretary & Chief Executive at the Royal Academy, says  “We are delighted to be collaborating with HOLBA on The Piccadilly Art Takeover for their Art of London season. The artworks, designed by an exceptionally talented group of artists and architects associated with the Royal Academy, will bring vibrancy and colour for visitors returning to London over the summer and in the lead up to the 253rd Summer Exhibition.”

The artists carefully selected to enliven and welcome people back to the West End area are: Michael Armitage, Vanessa Jackson RA, Isaac Julien CBE RA, Farshid Moussavi OBE RA and Yinka Shonibare CBE RA.  Their work ranges from painting to video instillation and together champions creativity and inclusivity, celebrating our beautiful city and the people who make it what it is.  The painter Michael Armitage says “Three of my images have been used for flags that will hang over Piccadilly.  One is made from a painting honouring the work of key workers in London.  It’s a painting of four of the refuse collectors in Hackney, near my studio, who worked throughout the pandemic, putting themselves at risk as a result.  It’s an honour to be able to celebrate the people of London, as we welcome people back to the iconic area of Piccadilly.”

The Piccadilly Art Takeover is supported by Sky Arts, Piccadilly Lights, Westminster City Council and the Mayor of London, and forms part of the Let’s Do London campaign, a £7m initiative launched by the Mayor of London, Visit London, Transport for London and the tourism industry.

We at Jermyn Street feel incredibly lucky to have such a fantastic, interactive and accessible art exhibit right on our doorstep, and we encourage absolutely everyone to enjoy this vibrant celebration of our city and art in all its forms.

The Piccadilly Art Takeover runs until 31 August 2021.

Head to the Art of London website for more details.