Brockley Max Creates a Mural Map to Celebrate our 25th Anniversary
Over the course of two decades, Brockley Max Festival has visually reshaped the local landscape by championing public art that fosters community pride. The area got its first murals more than 40 years ago with the historic Bob Marley artwork. Brockley Max added to this in 2005 by commissioning murals of Black icons including Maya Angelou and Jimi Hendrix. Although these early works were lost to redevelopment, Brockley Max’s commitment to street art reached a turning point in 2015 when it led the first Brockley Street Art Festival. This led to over 20 murals being painted, many of which remain as iconic local landmarks. The Brockley Max Opening Night takes place in front of the beloved replacement mural of Bob Marley from 2015, painted by Dale Grimshaw.
Brockley Max organised more murals in 2023 as part of the Mayor of London’s Untold Stories project. This second Black Icons project celebrates four inspiring local women of colour, from a selection of notable Black female peers. More recently, two shop fronts on Loampit Vale (below) and distinctive, site-specific artworks were commissioned at Pistachio’s Café on Hilly Fields, the gates of Ladywell’s historic Playtower, and the Molesworth Street entrance to Lewisham Shopping Centre. Collaborative efforts between the festival, businesses, and independent artists has turned this part of Lewisham into a vibrant, inspiring gallery. To mark its 25th anniversary, Brockley Max has released this special fold-out mural map, inviting everyone to explore this rich, colourful history. Thanks to Lewisham Shopping centre for funding this project and to all the artists who gave us permission to reproduce their work.
Available to pick up from shops and businesses soon and at the Opening Night on 29th May 2026.
Clare Seldon from Eventmaps not only designed the printed map for us, but has kindly created an interactive digital version below.
Brockley Max and AMRO brighten up Loampit Vale
After a public call out for artists to propose murals along Loampit Vale to cover the shutters of the empty Carpet Direct, Morley’s Chicken and Classisque Nail Bar shops. Matilda White and Luke Smile were chosen from all the entries.
This was the brief: We are looking to commission talented muralists to spray paint vibrant and creative artwork on the shutters of the three shops. The aim is to enhance the local environment and decorate a soon-to-be-developed stretch on the approach to Lewisham town centre. This represents a suberb chance to share your art with thousands of Lewisham residents every day. The site is temporary but expected to last a few years.
AMRO Partners will be redeveloping the site which includes row of shops, the former Mothercare store (currently a SETS exhibition space) as well as Sports Direct and Matalan and are currently consulting on plans: hhttps://lewishamretailpark.commonplace.is/ A public consultation was held at the former Carpet Direct site in February, with a further such event planned for the summer ahead of a planning application.
While we are open to ideas and different styles of artwork, a broad celebration of the Lewisham area including the people who have helped put the area on the map – musicians, writers, sportspeople, campaigners, artists and more – would be welcome. AMRO has a focus on ESG, so environment and sustainability are also of interest.
AMRO has asked Brockley Max to oversee the commissioning and fulfilment of the mural project in return for sponsoring this year’s festival, which takes place from Friday 30 May to Saturday 7 June and will be Brockley Max’s 24th year.
Photographers: Luke at Allan Archive and Rosie Hattersley
