Horfield Library Public Art Project for Bristol City Council.
Bristol 2023/24
Commissioned by Bristol City Council as part of the City Centre and High Streets Recovery and Renewal Programme, funded through the West of England Combined Authority's Love Our High Streets initiative, this project involved two distinct but connected phases of public art at Horfield Library, Bristol.
The first phase was a large-scale exterior mural developed through an extensive community engagement programme with local residents and Friends of Horfield Library. Workshops explored local wildlife, natural features and the history of the area, with residents' input directly shaping the final design. The mural was painted by hand on the exterior wall of the library.
The second phase involved designing a set of laser-cut metal gates for the library entrance, fabricated by Creative Metalworks and installed by Bristol City Council. The gate design extends the visual language of the mural into a three-dimensional, functional object, connecting the artwork to the everyday experience of entering the building.
Together the mural and gates represent a complete transformation of the library's public face, making it more welcoming, more distinctive and more reflective of the community it serves. Thanks to Friends of Horfield Library for their input and direction.
Commissioner: Bristol City Council | Funded by: West of England Combined Authority Love Our High Streets | Gate Fabrication: Creative Metalworks | Community partner: Friends of Horfield Library
