EQ Building, 111 Victoria Street Bristol. Photo @ Molly Hawkins
Synopsis
Commissioned by CEG, Molly Hawkins has created a landmark mural on the façade of the EQ building, celebrating Bristol’s rich printing heritage and the cultural significance of its location. The mural design paid homage to the site’s legacy as the former Mardon, Son, and Hall printworks, with the architecture representing a typesetter tray pattern that connected the historic with the contemporary.
Molly’s canvas stretches an impressive 22m x 15m, marking her most ambitious mural to date. Installed in July 2024, the artwork has become a new visual anchor for Redcliffe, situated conveniently across from Temple Meads Train Station.
The mural forms a key part of the wider ‘Creative Journeys’ Public Art multi-project app that was commissioned through Bristol City Council’s planning policy, funded by CEG and produced by Art Acumen.
During the design research phase, Molly delved into Bristol’s typographic archives and visited The Letter Press Collective to deepen her understanding of local history. She uncovered the city’s printmaking past—a narrative largely dominated by male figures—and found inspiration in The Women Who Built Bristol, which highlighted influential artists like Paule Vézelay, who boldly challenged norms with abstract creations.
Molly explored a range of inspirations, developing numerous design concepts using collage and print-making techniques. The EQ building itself, with its architectural nod to typesetter trays, provided a unique framework to guide the mural’s design.
“I found myself captivated by the tools used in traditional letterpress and printmaking. I wanted to incorporate the shapes of these elements into the mural artwork, particularly the reversed letters prepared for printing and the format of the frames that hold the type and tools in place for the press.”Molly Hawkins
In a collaborative effort, Molly worked with Bristol-based writer Malaika Kegode, spending days uncovering local stories and motifs drawn from the site’s heritage and the thematic richness of printing and letterpress. This journey sparked playful and poetic pieces by Malaika, while Molly crafted corresponding visual motifs.
Click on the links below to read Malaika’s collection of poems created during research and development collaboration with Molly:
Born Marjorie Watson Williams Paule Vezelay
Expanding on the themes and aesthetics of the exterior mural, Molly also designed a series of interior artworks for the EQ building. These pieces were inspired by the same historical narratives and visual motifs featured in the mural, creating a cohesive artistic narrative throughout the building, enriching the space with a cultural exploration that resonated with Bristol’s history and creativity.
“Collaborating with Malaika to create the text within the artwork has been an incredible experience. Gaining insight into her creative process was truly inspiring and added a whole new dimension to the project.”Molly Hawkins
Further Reading
Using the world as her canvas, Molly Hawkins evokes joy and positivity with her signature bold and colourful cut-out shapes and patterns. Inspired by natural forms and movement, Molly’s art spans entire building murals, basketball courts, and streets to set design, interiors and fashion.
Born in Yorkshire and shaped by Bristol, Molly creates playful public art pieces that captivate audiences internationally with works in Mexico, Colombia and throughout Europe. Molly is passionate about making art accessible and bringing communities together in playful optimism. With a background in theatre, Molly designs large-scale public art that invites conversations and connection.
Her community workshops use craft to share stories and connect people, fostering well-being, pride, creativity, and belonging. Some of her notable collaborations include work with the NHS, Surfers Against Sewage, as well as leading brands such as Lucy & Yak, FatFace, and Finisterre. High-profile projects include Molly’s vibrant transformation of the UK’s first 3×3 Basketball Court in Essex, her largest mural to date (22m x 15m) at EQ Building in Bristol, and her Taylor Swift art trail installation. Molly’s work has been featured on BBC News, Design Week and Observer Magazine.
Visit Molly’s website here.
Malaika Kegode is an award-winning writer, performer, creative producer, and an Associate Director at Theatre Royal Plymouth. She loves finding stories between the cracks in the pavement and then helping them to grow.
Malaika began her creative career as a performance poet in 2014, a path which led her to perform across the UK at a number of iconic venues, festivals, and literary events such as The 100 Club, WOMAD, and The Scottish Storytelling Centre. She has three poetry collections – Requite (2017), Thalassic (2019), and Body Buffet (2022). Malaika is also the founder, co-producer, and host of Milk Poetry.
Creative Journey’s is a unique app-based public art programme inviting locals and visitors to rediscover Bristol’s thriving business district. Visitors are invited to take a journey through the eyes of twelve local artists as they showcase the small beautiful details of this thriving place, its intimate stories and key historical events, as well as their reflections on resilience and wellbeing. Creative Journeys was commissioned by CEG for the EQ Building on Victoria Street and Produced by Art Acumen.
Art Acumen was established in 2009 and operates with a core team augmented by Associate art consultants, curators and producers, appointed on a project-by-project basis to advise and help deliver our bespoke art programmes. The team also expands to an established network of specialist art partners, these include specialist fabrication companies, fine art handlers, technicians and lighting consultants.
Catherine Thomas (Managing Director of Art Acumen), has twenty years’ experience as an art consultant – delivering visionary art programmes and place-making through public art programmes. Her creativity, integrity and extensive knowledge of the art world are combined with strong communication, programme management and design skills. This ensures a bespoke and holistic approach for each project.
Discover the internationally important work of Paule Vézelay, a key figure of 20th-century British abstract art. Her vivid explorations of colour and line fill this retrospective exhibition at the RWA – the largest solo show of Vézelay’s work in over 40 years.
On show until 27 April 2025 at RWA Bristol.
