Wild Walls Festival Brings New Murals to Ipswich

The Wild Walls Festival has seen four new large scale murals added to walls in Ipswich. Part of a larger programme of street art in the city. The murals have been painted by ATMA, Woskerski, Nathan Murdoch aka ‘Nyces‘ and KB Design.

A first of its kind for Ipswich. The urban art festival incorporated the murals with film screenings and a new street art trail. At 576 square metres the piece from ATMA is also believed to be one of the largest murals in the East of England.

Developed with local young people, the final designs offered a chance to really see the design process come to life. Joining workshops throughout the summer the artists then turned the visions from those onto the walls.

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ATMA – James Hehir Building

“The mural, called ‘From Ipswich with Love’, is like a love letter from Ipswich to the world” says ATMA. “I had the incredible opportunity to do workshops with Ipswich residents. The mural showcases the beautiful spirit of Ipswich: creative, loving, open, forward-thinking”. The focus of my work is to create an uplifting narrative anchored in its location. Which resonates with its local community. I hope the mural will become a timeless universal message of kindness, positivity and vibrancy.

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Woskerski – Ashton Legal

The goal of my work is to make people smile says Woskerski. “But also to make them stop and try to interpret the art in their own way”. For the piece in Ipswich he draws attention to the fact that some of the ladybird’s spots are missing. Around the mural local community members add spots to the shell. “This is empowering. It also portrays the joy that people feel when doing something artistic. I hope the people of Ipswich enjoy and have fun with the mural.” 

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Nathan Murdoch – The Hold

A work inspired by the historical records of the Suffolk Archives. They are based at ‘The Hold’ where the mural has been painted. A hand is shown holding a portal, a reference to the seafaring history of Ipswich. It is next to a book with origami butterflies flying out of the pages. They are made out of folded archive records. “This speaks to historical stories” says Nathan Murdoch. “Flying out of the portal into the present day”.

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KB Design – Great Colman Street

Two street artists Kirsty and Brittany who work together as KB Design. They have created an image with multiple layers and inspirations. Brought together through workshops with local young people. It shows the skyline, Digby the Octopus, the ‘I’ of Ipswich and the Suffolk flower, the Oxlip. All are visuals that represent the town. The butterfly, eyes and the hands meanwhile add a bit of humanity to the piece. Themselves all representing Ipswich’s young people.

The ‘Wild Walls Festival‘ is a collaboration between ‘Art Eat Events CIC‘ and The Subversiv Collective. They have been supported by the Arts Council of England, Ipswich Borough Council and Ipswich Central. Also by SPILL, The Hold and University of Suffolk.  

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