“To start the new year, I painted a portrait of the main character of the TV series ‘The Queen’s Gambit‘, Beth, played by actress Anya Taylor Joy. The series tells the story of a girl who, while growing up in an orphanage, becomes an international chess champion. Her success is darkened by drug and alcohol addiction. It’s an inspiring story that made me want to play chess again! The artwork represents Beth holding the queen piece while looking straight ahead of her, determined to win. Thanks to VIP Graffiti for the spot.”

“The Queen’s Gambit” – Zabou – 7x3m – London, UK – 2021

Photo credit: Zabou

“I returned to Penge in South London to paint my last mural of the year: a portrait of Gordon Gibbens. Gordon was a unstoppable photographer who took pictures of street art and graffiti all over London and beyond, for almost two decades. In 2012, he was diagnosed with cancer, at the age of 81. Despite being ill and weakened by more health issues over time, or being in a wheelchair during his last few months, nothing could stop his love for street art! He kept on travelling all over the city to take photos with the help of his daughter Jane and her husband Tom. You can read his full story in the book How Graffiti Saved My Dad’s Life published by Colossive Press.

Thanks to Steve from London Calling for the spot & his family for supplying the original photo.

“Anything’s better than a blank wall…”

“For the past five years, Steve from London Calling has organised more than 300 murals all around the districts of Penge, Sydenham and Forest Hill in South London. It was a great pleasure to finally paint in the area and take part in this amazing outdoor gallery.

The mural I’ve created for this project focuses on our addiction to smartphones. It shows a woman (model: Angela) with bowed head, staring at her screen, her boyfriend’s arm around her shoulder. A sight that’s very common in our daily lives. It has become so easy to spend hours on our phones scrolling down infinitely, watching or reading content we never intended to, craving the likes of social media and becoming more addicted while disconnecting ourselves with those and things around us.

Thanks to Steve, Faye, Bill & Jane the building owners, and Angela my model.”

“Modern-Day Addiction” – Zabou – 10x8m – London, UK – 2020

Photo credit: Zabou

Work in progress:

Photo credit: Ldn Calling Blog

“The London Mural Fest was the first mural festival of its scale to take place across the city during the last few weeks; it brought together about 70+ new artworks. I painted a wall in Tottenham depicting a couple looking tenderly at each other behind a window, their hands leaning on the glass. The artwork, based on a photo taken earlier this summer, is a reflection of our times: it is about love and missing each other during the pandemic. Most of us had to be isolated for a time, separated from loved ones and human interaction has never felt so strange and at the same time much needed.

Big thanks to the team at Global Street Art for organising this project, and to my models Camille and Aurélien for posing!”

“I Miss You” – Zabou – 11x7m – London, UK – 2020

Photo credit: Zabou (1,2,3) and Marian (4,5)

“I took part in the 6th edition of ‘Ceci N’est Pas Un Tag’, a street art festival taking place in Saint-Quentin, France. I painted a mural of a young mother tenderly holding her newborn baby. My models for this project were singer Eva Lazarus with her son Kobe. There are a lot of small details in this artwork: from Eva’s beautiful curls to the toy, or the patterns on her clothes.

Thanks to the city of Saint-Quentin for organising this project, as well as Flore, Maria and Françoise for helping me on site.”

“Mum” – Zabou – 9x6m – Saint-Quentin, France – 2020

Work in progress:

Photo Credit: Zabou

“Earlier this summer, I painted a portrait of the iconic British actress and humanitarian Audrey Hepburn in Brick Lane, London. While the building was being renovated, the owner gave me carte blanche to beautify it, and the artwork has only been unveiled recently after the scaffolding tower was taken down.

The portrait is inspired by an amazing photograph taken by Yousuf Karsh in 1960. The artwork depicts Audrey Hepburn looking down, peaceful with a hint of nostalgia, while holding a few tulips. Years ago, a white hybrid variety of the flower was developed in Holland, and its creators named it after the iconic beauty.”

“Audrey Hepburn” – Zabou – 9x7m – London, UK – 2020

Work in progress:

Photo credit: Zabou

The small village of Penelles in Spain is a beautiful and surprising outdoor gallery, now filled with more than 100 murals (for 400 inhabitants!). The organisers of Gargar Festival invited me to take part in this year’s edition, which took place with less artists over a few weeks in August.

I painted a portrait of my friend and artist Bifido, who did some paste-ups at the festival a few years ago. The artwork depicts him wearing his traditional street art gear (hat, bag with paper and red jumper) and in full action: he’s pasting up a collage of a blue sky on the wall while looking nervously over his shoulder. Sometimes, you gotta be quick!

“Quick!” – Zabou – 10x12m – Penelles, Spain – 2020

Work in progress:Photo credit: Zabou

“Last year I painted the portrait of the founder of Emmaüs, Abbé Pierre, at the charity’s branch in Saumur, France. The mural was damaged during a storm this winter so I repainted it again. Abbé Pierre was a priest who fought all his life for social justice and solidarity, against exclusion and poverty. The artwork is based on a photo by M. Pelletier Decaux, and depicts Abbé Pierre with his famous white beard and square glasses, smiling and hopeful.”

“Abbé Pierre” – Zabou – 4x5m – Saumur, France – 2020

Work in progress:

Photo credit: Zabou (1,2,3) & Sylvie Moreau (4,5)

“I recently travelled to the Puglia region in Southern Italy to paint in the small city of Stornara, for the third edition of ‘Stramurales’ Festival. During the last few months, the Covid-19 pandemic has forced many people to move, relocate, find a new home and leave another one behind – while borders were shut and regulations were constantly changing. Many of us have had this feeling of instability with no looking back. This is the idea behind the mural I’ve painted for the festival. It shows the model, Luca (a young man originally from Napoli), holding his passport and backpack while a little bird is sat on his shoulder. He’s looking behind his shoulder, his eyes lost in the distance. The tones are predominantly orange and ocre, matching many of the colourful buildings from the city.”

“No Looking Back” – Zabou – 10x10m – Stornara, Italy – 2020

Credit: Zabou & Drone shots by Lucia Gio

“I was invited at by VIP Graffiti, a paint supply store in North London, to paint on their front wall. I created a portrait of American poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou. She has written beautiful poems and powerful works defending women and black culture. The artwork, based on a photograph my Michael Ochs, depicts Maya Angelou looking up, deep in her thoughts. She is resting her head on her hand, holding a pen.”

“Maya Angelou” – Zabou – 7x3m – London, UK – 2020

Photo credit: Zabou

“It was time for a refresh at The Bell Pub located in Spitalfields in London. In light of the current events, I painted a striking photo taken by FutureHackney during the Black Lives Matter protests in London. A young man stares at the audience, he’s wearing a mask with the words ‘Racism is a virus’, while other protesters are in the background. I stand with the BLM movement and their fight for equality and justice.”

“Racism Is A Virus” – Zabou – 7x4m – London, UK – 2020

Photo credit: Zabou + Last photo: FutureHackney

“I was invited by Justice Through Arts, a non-profit project organised in West Hampstead, to paint a 40m long mural on West End Lane Bridge. The goal of the project is to raise awareness about homelessness while brightening up a dull space.

I painted 3 portraits from the streets, each of them with a unique story (see below). People who are homeless may be ignored and forgotten by those surrounding them most of the time. By having their portraits occupying a large space and their eyes starring back at the audience, they are stating their existence.”

“The Forgotten Ones” – Zabou – 40×1,5m – London, UK – 2020

Portrait of David, Amy, John & Sugar.

David, a former veteran, photographed smoking in New York by Lee Jeffries.

Amy, a woman trying to protect herself during the Coronavirus outbreak, photographed in Toronto by Leah Den Bok.

John and his three-legged dog Sugar, who both stayed on this bridge for 20 years where John had a little book stand. He was nicknamed ‘Spider’ because of his face tattoo. He was filmed by Simon Brann Thorpe for a short documentary. Sadly they passed away a year ago.

On the other side of the bridge, we can admire Ben Eine‘s amazing typography stating ‘Through Arts We Rise’.Photos credit: Zabou

I’ve been inspired by the last season of TV series ‘Casa De Papel’ to paint a portrait of Nairobi, one of the main characters. She’s a fierce and defiant woman played by Spanish actress Alba Flores. The mural is located in the courtyard of VIP Graffiti, a local paint shop in North London.

“Nairobi” – Zabou – 7x3m – London, UK – 2020

Photo credit: Zabou

Due to the ongoing outbreak of Coronavirus Covid-19, my times in the street will be limited over the next few weeks. But before London goes on lockdown, I painted this fun piece to refresh the Dali portrait done at LukeJacob. This new painting depicts Dali looking at his pet, an ocelot named Babou. Babou’s whiskers are also shaped like Dali’s moustache – like owner, like pet!

“Dali & His Ocelot” – Zabou – 3,5x2m – London UK – 2020

Photo credit: Zabou

There is a new addition to the side of the Duke of Wellington pub in Spitalfields. The street of Spitalfields and Whitechapel were scenes of the infamous crimes in 1888, one of them is located just opposite the pub. The artwork depicts Jack The Ripper (model: Luca) coming through the wall and staring at passers-by.

“The Ripper” – Zabou – 4x3m – London, UK – 2020

Photo credit: Zabou