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Public art and art on campus
We run a number of projects at UCL East to stimulate critical debate and inspire novel lines of cross-disciplinary creative practice in this unique part of London.
Through commissioned art installations from established practitioners, to student residencies and interdisciplinary matchmaking opportunities, we seek to transform how the world is understood and add value to the experiences of everyone who uses or visits the campus.
Find out more about our projects below and about the artwork on display on our campus. Everyone is welcome to visit and experience the artwork and collection in person.
If you have any questions or would like to get involved, please contact public.art@ucl.ac.uk
Public art commissions
Gaia, 2023
This permanent artwork by Artist Luke Jerram, located in Marshgate atrium, was designed for people to ‘see the Earth as if from space; an incredibly beautiful and precious place. An ecosystem we urgently need to look after – our only home’.
Trēow of Time, 2023
For their first permanent artwork, located in Marshgate atrium, Larry Achiampong and David Blandy created a hyper-real installation inspired by 3D video gaming and their time spent between the natural and virtual realms.
Hear Now, 2023
Located in One Pool Street atrium, this artwork by Emma Hart, featuring megaphones and frying pans, gives a visual shout-out to the working class women of the East London Federation of Suffragettes (ELFS).
Cray and Indigo, 2022
Marigold and Indigo, 2023
These 2 art pieces, which can be viewed at One Pool Street, reflect artist Abi Ola’s Nigerian and British heritage, inspired by tie-dyed cloth design from South West Nigeria and patterns created by British designer, poet and activist, William Morris.
UCL student artists and acquired art
UCL East art collection
UCL East's acquired collection of pieces created by UCL students is on display on campus, at Marshgate and One Pool Street. Find out more and visit the campus to discover them in person.
Creative collaborations
Trellis
City Mill Skate
Led by Dr Esther Sayers and Sam Griffin – both researchers, artists and themselves skateboarders, this project sought to develop, test and create a range of skateable architectural elements to be embedded into UCL East’s social spaces, resulting in the creation of the City Mill Skateboard park.
Habitat: Degree 51N/-0E
Taking its name from the coordinates of the lost Manor Gardens allotments, located half a mile from UCL East, the installation (which took place in summer 2024) was co-designed, by artist Suzy Round and UCL lecturer Michael Hrebeniak, with local children, who also planted and tended its miniature allotment.
What's on at UCL East
Find out more about our latest activities and opportunities to get involved, browse our news and events.
UCL East news
UCL East events
Other public art projects at UCL
IoN-DRI art programme
The ION-DRI is UCL's new world-class centre of excellence in neuroscience. 'Harmony, Creativity, Welcome, Hope' is a wide-ranging programme of arts activities across both Grays Inn Road and Queen Square. The programme includes a number of new public artworks for the new building, that will stimulate debate and provide a lasting legacy.
Synthesis (Heavy Chain)
Commissioned by UCL Public Art for the Institute of Immunity & Transplantation, Royal Free Hospital London and suspended within the atrium of the Pears Building entrance. The sculpture ‘Synthesis (heavy chain)’ is formed from the underlying code that guides the creation of our immune systems.