Tribute to Ben Naz as Street Artists Take Over the Leake Street Tunnel for Memorial Paint Jam

The legal graffiti space underneath the arches of Waterloo station, the Leake Street Tunnel, once again received a makeover today as the street art community turned out in force to pay tribute to one of its own.

Ben Naz, the respected street artist, recently lost a long running battle with cancer having fought against the disease for a number of years. Naz’s motto, was ‘Live Life Without Regrets’ and that is certainly the way he chose to live his life particularly during the last months of his life.

This weekend was a poignant one for the family and friends of the ‘Guerilla’ artist. A funeral and service on Friday was followed by a fundraising event in his name the day after at the Affordably Affordable Art Fair in Shoreditch. Sunday’s Leake Street Paint Jam was an opportunity for friends from the art world to come along and pay their respects in the best way they know how.

It’s not the first time a Paint Jam has been held to support Ben Naz, the F**K You Cancer event in 2013 also saw the street art community come out in force. So for this post I just wanted to concentrate on the art that was created in memory of Ben Naz, the original Guerilla artist.

Ben Naz Leake Street Tribute Gallery

Ben Naz by Pauli Bates
Ben Naz by Pauli Bates
Pauli Bates by his tribute piece
Pauli Bates by his tribute piece
Elno next to her tribute piece to Ben Naz in the tunnel
Elno next to her tribute piece to Ben Naz in the tunnel
Edit of Elno drawing in a book with her tribute piece behind
Edit of Elno drawing in a book with her tribute piece behind
Amara Por Dios next to her tribute piece in the tunnel
Amara Por Dios next to her tribute piece in the tunnel
Edit of Amara Por Dios tribute piece to Ben Naz
Edit of Amara Por Dios tribute piece to Ben Naz
Itsa Disorder and Koby in action creating the tribute.  Itsa Disorder In a message on the Team Naz Facebook page Disorder said that the 2013 paint jam inspired her to paint again after a lengthy break
Itsa Disorder and Koby in action creating the tribute. Itsa Disorder In a message on the Team Naz Facebook page Disorder said that the 2013 paint jam inspired her to paint again after a lengthy break
'Ben' by Itsa Disorder and Koby with Koby painting.
‘Ben’ by Itsa Disorder and Koby with Koby painting.
Collaboration between Itsa Disorder and Koby
Collaboration between Itsa Disorder and Koby
Work from Baron Naz, the son of Ben following in his fathers footsteps
Work from Baron Naz, the son of Ben following in his fathers footsteps
Dice Sixty Seven Tribute
Dice Sixty Seven Tribute
A photographer takes a picture of the tribute from TrueF and Pauli Bates
A photographer takes a picture of the tribute from TrueF-1 and Pauli Bates
Fist by Pauli Bates
Fist by Pauli Bates
'Ben Naz' by 'Next Generation'
‘Ben Naz’ by ‘Next Generation’
The Leake Street Tunnel during the Ben Naz paint jam
The Leake Street Tunnel during the Ben Naz paint jam
Angel tribute by KerryAnn Hays and her son Kieran
Angel tribute by KerryAnn Hays and her son Kieran
Piece by Blair Zaye and Ubangibangi photo by Blair Zaye taken  from 'Team Naz' facebook page
Piece by Blair Zaye and Ubangibangi photo by Blair Zaye taken from ‘Team Naz’ facebook page
Tribute by Pixels Pencil photo by the artist taken from the Team Naz facebook page
Tribute by Pixels Pencil photo by the artist taken from the Team Naz facebook page
Naz looking down the tunnel by Pixels Pencil
Naz looking down the tunnel by Pixels Pencil
Emotive tribute from TrueF to Ben Naz
Emotive tribute from TrueF-1 aka Art Under the Hood to Ben Naz
Bandito tribute to Ben Naz
Bandito tribute to Ben Naz
Work from Carlos Martyn Burgos and Pauli Bates
Work from Carlos Martyn Burgos and Pauli Bates
A tribute to Ben Naz's famous 'Selfie' image by Gee Street Art
A tribute to Ben Naz’s famous ‘Selfie’ image by Gee Street Art
Ben Naz with 'Live Life Without Regrets' written in Farsi by Elle and Mike
Ben Naz with ‘Live Life Without Regrets’ written in Farsi by Elle and Mike
Team Naz by Gee Higgins
Team Naz by Gee Higgins
Ben Naz Tribute by Speculum
Ben Naz Tribute by Speculum
Ben Naz close up by Elle and Mike
Ben Naz close up by Elle and Mike
Work from Graffeeney next to Next Generation
Work from Graffeeney next to Next Generation
Ben Naz by Beastie
Ben Naz by Beastie
Ben Naz by Pauli Bates
Ben Naz by Pauli Bates

The Leake Street tribute to Ben Naz took place on 16 November 2014 at the Leake Street Tunnel in Waterloo.

For more Inspiring City articles featuring paint jams have a look at:

Ben Naz paint jam in the Leake Street Tunnel 2015

Elefest paint jam at the Elephant and Castle

Mile End Birthday celebrations paint jam

12 Comments

  1. Very sad news that Ben lost his fight with cancer.. I saw his last exhibition at the Graffik Gallery “One Last Ride” in September… It was very sad knowing that Ben was very ill. His work will live on and I hope admired by all. I also hope his artwork on the streets will be left alone.

  2. You’ve captured the activity and hard work so well Stuart. I was there too for a short while. Even though I didn’t know of Ben, I was very moved by the vibes today. Expressing grief is so important in our repressed society. Great that his friends could so like this.

  3. Was great to meet you and an honour to be part of this weekends events from Friday to Sunday – it’s been emotion but full of love for a legend of a man.

    Was an honour to know him and to make something in tribute to him.

    May he rest in peace now, his legacy will live on.

    RIP BEN NAZ

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