Ross Baker, Heathrow’s Chief Commercial Officer said: "Bringing some of the most Instagrammed street art from around the world into our terminals is our way of showing the accessibility of different cultures and wonders of the world through our airport, as well as giving passengers the perfect post moment to start their journey at Heathrow.”
About the street art and artists
1) Wings, Colette Miller, Terminal 3
Colette Miller created the Global Angel Wings Project in 2012 on the streets of Los Angeles, the City of Angels. They were painted to remind humanity that we are the angels of this earth. They are human sized interactive public art, wings that let people take photos and become part of the artwork. Since the first pair in LA in 2012, Colette has painted wings around the world including across the USA, Australia, France, Japan, Cuba, Mexico, Kenya and now London.
“I started painting the Wings in 2012 to remind humanity that we are the angels of the earth,” says Colette Miller. “ They represent our inner angel, and represent that even though we all come from scarred lives and can sometimes do the wrong thing, we are all human and we can all really be the good on this earth. The Wings can be seen across six continents, but it is the first time I have painted them in London, and it’s special that they are in Heathrow and bringing people from across the world into contact with them in one place.”
2) Floating Taxi, Rogue One, Terminal 5
Rogue One (real name Bobby McNamara) has work scattered all over Glasgow and there is even a mural trail where all his works can be traced. The Floating Taxi is his most famous and most Instagrammed artwork, depicting a man hailing a taxi floating with balloons on Mitchell Street in Glasgow.
“The original piece of street art depicted the world’s most ecological taxi and was inspired by the lady who owned the building in Glasgow, whose late husband had been a taxi driver,” says Rogue One. “Subsconsciously I was inspired by the movie Up, with all the balloons lifting the taxi up and taking it through the sky. It feels fitting to have been able to recreate it in Heathrow, and it’s an honour to have it there for so many people to see and hopefully appreciate each day.”
3) Alice Pasquini, Above the Lines, Terminal 2
Alice Pasquini’s street art revolves around topics of femininity and independent women and her murals tell the stories of acts of kindness and love. ‘Above the Lines’ in Rome depicts three women jumping the height of a building and was painted to help raise funds for the town of Grisciano after it was hit by an earthquake.
"All of my work talks about people and their emotions,” says Alice Pasquini. “I have always used walls like a canvas to represent intimate moments in public space. For Heathrow I wanted to represent a journey that was both real and imaginary. The girl jump through a colourful space that invites passengers to do the same and join the scene. In this way, travel is both something physical and fantastical.”
4) Odeith, Anamorphic Frog, Terminal 4
Specialising in anamorphic graffiti, Portuguese artist Odeith uses perspective and shadow to create his own signature, obscure style that he calls Somber 3D. His Anamorphic Frog, which gives the illusion that is creeping up on you, is one of the most Instagrammed artworks in Lisbon.
“I have always been fascinated by 3D paintings, and when I discovered a way of bringing graffiti and 3D together it opened up my life as an artist,” comments Odeith. “It’s an honour to recreate my work at Heathrow, and I think it’s an amazing way to show the best of the world’s street art to millions of people from all walks of life.”
