Art and Artists of the Hackney Wicked Festival 2014

The Hackney Wicked festival is fast becoming the sort of event that needs to be scheduled into the calender well in advance such is it’s growing appeal. This year saw crowds unlike festivals of previous years as the area around the Wick and Fish Island opened up the doors of it’s studios to give visitors an artistic treat.

Nestled in the shadow of the newly landscaped Olympic Park, it’s cleaned up and well tendered canals and trendy cafes are a far cry from the Wick of yesteryear. More than once, speaking to some of the long serving inhabitants of the artistic studios, they reminded me that it wasn’t always the case. There was a time pre-Olympics that the Wick was all but a no-go area.

Now it’s all change, the artists studios are still there and it’s artistic vibe is something that should be kept hold of although the increasing rents caused by it’s proximity to London’s newest district are causing some concern.

Fish Island Riviera

Hackney Wicked reminds us just what makes this area unique. The Formans Smokehouse famous for it’s salmon transforms into the Fish Island Riviera. The area around the Crate Brewery, a party zone at the best of times gets even trendier and the streets around Wick throng with street art, music and street food.

Highlights for me included the sheer volume of street art from the likes of Hackney Wick locals Paul Insect and Sweet Toof; the artists opening up their doors to their studios; artist Sean Worrall creating over 100 pieces of free art and leaving them all over the place for people to find and take home; and of course the amazing vibe of the place. But for this post I thought I’d share with you some pictures from the event from the day that the Wick opened it’s doors and held it’s biggest party of the year.

Hackney Wicked Festival 2014 Gallery

This narrow boat became a floating art canvas for Paul Insect

Model maker Wilfred Wood had some brilliant characters

Artist Paul Norton entertained guests with his guitar — Paul Norton entertained guests with his guitar

Artist Mick Dean in his studio — Mick Dean in his studio

A cheeky Sweet Toof tag inside one of the buildings

Glass Artist and painter Kate Baden Fuller in her studio

Pangs work can often be seen in the Hackney Wick area

WP_20140802_16_04_11_Pro — Hackney Wicked 2014

Original paste ups from Sweet Toof and Paul Insect could be found all over the Wick

Boxhead was painting on her stall on the Riviera

Jenny Judova founder of Art Map London and Lewis Burton at Hackney Wicked in 2014 — Jenny Judova founder of Art Map London and performance artist Lewis Burton

A performance artist stood with a bucket on his head

This art installation had packets of peanuts and sardines hanging from a metal tree

The Fish Island Riviera literally became a riviera

Neoh painting at hackney wicked in 2014 — Neoh painting in one of the open studios

A woman relaxes next to a giant painting from Sweet Toof

It looks like this tooth has been pulled

Some great work from Bob Motown in the Stour Space Gallery

The canal boats were out in force with some cool characters

Save Gaza tag written on the walls of the Crate Brewery during Hackney Wicked 2014 — Save Gaza tag written on the walls of the Crate Brewert

Sweet Toof's 'No Sleep for the Wicked' — Sweet Toof’s ‘No Sleep for the Wicked’

Paul Insect paste ups could be found all over

Saki & B installed some of her interactive pieces at the festival

A cheeky little sticker from Rowdy with some of the Wick's warehouses in the background — A cheeky little sticker from Rowdy with some of the Wick’s warehouses in the background

Crowds gathered in the wick for art, music and food

This chap was placed outside the Dollyolli Studios for people to sit on

AR had been asked to paint the Lord Napier and had Ubangibangi helping her

The Hackney Wicked festival took place from Friday 1st August to Sunday 3rd August 2014 with Inspiring City visiting on the second day. Artist studios visited were in the Bridget Riley Studios and Britannia Works studios both of which are housed in old warehouse buildings on Fish Island.

For more articles on the street art of Hackney Wick have a look at: