New mural unveiled on Liverpool waterfront celebrating the city’s sporting, artistic, comedic and dramatic talent. Tony McDonough reports

 

Artist Joseph Venning has created a new mural on Liverpool waterfront that celebrates the city’s sporting, artistic, comedic and dramatic talent. 

Located at the ACC Liverpool complex, the mural highlights figures from different eras who have defined the city’s cultural life. They included The Beatles, comic icon Sir Ken Dodd and boxing legends Natasha Jonas and John Conteh.

This new mural has been funded by Liverpool BID Company’s Art & Culture Fund and has been developed by ACC Liverpool and dot-art.

Stretching 40m, and two metres high, the mural can be seen by visitors as they arrive at ACC Liverpool, next to the Pullman Hotel and Exhibition Centre Liverpool.

With a design inspired by Sir Peter Blake’s eye-catching collage style, evoking his iconic Sergeant Pepper album sleeve, the mural depicts a wide range of cultural figures.

The artwork is divided into five key themes: music, sport, comedy, drama, and visual art. Figures from each field are depicted in the artworks. 

The first section depicts Liverpool’s rich music history, celebrating the faces of well known artists such as Sir Paul McCartney to The Las and Spice Girl Mel C. Famous venues including Eric’s and nation are also included. 

In the comedy section the late Paul O’Grady’s Lily Savage is depicted alongside Sir Ken Dodd and Arthur Askey. The visual art collection includes Little Girl Giant, Sir Antony Gormley’s Another Place, George Stubbs and Sir Peter Blake’s Dazzle Ferry.

Liverpool’s acting talent is featured in the drama section. This includes Stephen Graham, Jodie Comer and Kim Cattrell.

Also featured are the city’s literary greats including Frank Cottrell Boyce and Beryl Bainbridge. Sports covers talents from Beth Tweddle to boxers Natasha Jonas and John Conteh.

Gemma McLoughlin, executive assistant, projects, at ACC Liverpool, said: “It is a priority for us to ensure the ACC Liverpool campus adds value to our local community by promoting happiness and wellbeing, with art firmly at the core.

“We developed the idea for a mural that celebrated our city and its people to enrich the urban space. We were thrilled when our application for arts and culture funding was successful.”

 

 

Artist Joe Venning added: “The idea of this design was to create a wall that is a celebration of Liverpudlians.

“It highlights diverse achievements in various fields, to both visitors to the city and locals alike; hopefully inspiring them to think ‘If they can do it, so can I.”

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And Liverpool BID Company chief executive, Bill Addy, also said: “We are delighted to be able to support this incredible work. It is a fitting tribute to the cultural talent that has put Liverpool on the map and makes life here as rich, warm and entertaining as it is.

This is such a vibrant project that really fulfils the missions of our Arts & Culture Fund, helping to attract visitors and provide a point of interest on the waterfront.”

Prints of the mural will be available soon to buy at dot-art.