Murals from the Southend City Jam 2023

The second Southend City Jam took place during September 2023. Once again bringing some of the best street art talent to Southend. A mix of local, national and international artists painting in various locations across the city.

A mixture of permanent walls were mixed with the popular High Street pop up from last year. Other locations were dotted around the city and featured large wooden cubes. All painted with some large murals on each side.

Cryola painting a striking portrait just off Southend High Street during the City Jam in 2023

Southend Street Art Locations

Main Walls

Alexandra Street Car Park

The Alexandra Street car park was once again one of the main locations of the Southend City Jam. Gent added to his piece in the same location from last years event and Liam Bononi continued his new series of glassware inspired images last seen in Cheltenham. Voydor meanwhile created a ‘portrait of the sky’, another artist who also created work during the 2022 event. Existing works in the area include Gent’s previous mural and Curtis Hylton’s nature inspired piece.

Liam Bononi has been creating a series of murals using the concept of glass

Gent creating his latest piece in Southend

Clarence Road Car Park

Another key location for the Southend City Jam was the Clarence Road car park. Big murals from Rocket01, Tech Moon and Jeks replacing existing pieces from Ster and Brave Arts. Other impressive works were added from Sophie Mess and Bublegum. The car park is full of big murals and easily one of the more impressive street art locations in the city.

Elmer Approach

Osisy and Vibes collaborated on a large wall on Elmer Approach. Running just off the High Street it was close to the action nearby where lots of temporary boards were painted. Their approach, a kind of diving suit inspired mix match combining both of their styles.

High Street

The High Street connects most of the key painting locations in Southend. As in it’s first year, it proved a popular location for the 2023 Southend City Jam. Underneath the railway bridge saw murals painted from Spray Saint and Luke Smile. A piece from Aroe was painted high to overlook shoppers and Paul Monsters combined with SNUB to create easily the biggest mural of the festival. Further toward the seafront on the corner with Heygate Avenue, Cryola and Joe Greenaway also added pieces.

Spray Saint mural underneath the rail bridge

Luke Smile creating words under the bridge

Joe Greenaway mural on the corner with Heygate Avenue

Cryola painting on the corner with Heygate Avenue

Collaboration between Paul Monsters and SNUB by far the largest mural created as part of the Southend City Jam

High Street Pop-Up

Centrepiece of the Southend City Jam one again was the High Street pop up. A series of separate banks of boards where artists paint amongst the shoppers. Given the location it’s a chance for the public to interact with the artists at the heart of the city.

Portrait from Pogo an artist based in Southsea

Box Vincent is an artist known for his calligraphy based style

Jola Artist created a series of painted posters in the form of a gallery

Natasha Kirby is an artist known for her colourful nature inspired designs

Chancellor Road

Zabou

Chichester Road

Aspire

Cubes

Royal Square

The Royal Square is an area which joins the main the shopping area of the city with the Esplanade. From it, the sea, the pier, the funfair and the amusements can all be seen. Painting here artists such as Abraham, Yeko, Sky High were joined by Northern Ireland’s Friz painting on an adjoining wall.

Abraham’s portrait of street art photographer Paul Nicholson

Yeko is an artist from Valencia in Spain

Friz artwork created on the wall opposite the main cube on Royal Parade

Marine Parade

Heading down from Royal Parade onto the junction with Marine Parade was another cube. Works from Curiouser and Curiouser and C.R.E.E.M lead into the seafront. A little further down towards the steps which lead up to Royal Terrace is also a mural from Ejits.

Ejits mural a little further down the parade on the base of the steps leading up to the Royal Terrace

Victoria Shopping Centre

The top of the High Street close towards London Road and Southend Victoria saw a cube positioned next to the Victoria Shopping Centre. A dramatic collaboration between Reves and Sidok joined works from Onem, Cortisol Kid and Mr Meana.

Museum Gardens

The area of the Museum Gardens is just behind the Southend Victoria station. All the works here were from local artist Andy Downes. Each piece celebrating a little bit of Southend culture and history.

EKCO and early electronics company based in Southend producing radios and TV sets. Local model Chelsi Valentine has been used as inspiration for the pose

Salvo the Clown a popular character from the Southend area

Warrior Square

At Warrior Square a number of locations were chosen for graffiti artists with members of the WOM Collective also painting. The location of Southend’s Skatey McSkateface Skatepark. The green spaces by the park and in the square were filled with temporary hoardings and a kind of summer festival vibe.

The Southend City Jam took place between 2-3 September 2023. It was visited on Sunday 3 September 2022 and all photos unless noted were taken then.

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