“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. Jack The Ripper, depicted with a bowler hat and blood splatters, is coming through the wall and waiting for his next victim… could it be you? Watch out!

Thanks to the team for providing me with the wall and to Luca my model!

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

Photo credit: Zabou

It took me about 3 to 4 days despite the rainy weather to paint this large-scale mural on the side of U7 Lounge in Haggerston, London, UK. I wanted to create an artwork that is vibrant, colourful and celebrates jazz music (the venue host jazz events and there is a music school a few doors down). My model is Nubya Garcia, a talented saxophonist from London, and the image is based on a photo of her playing on stage taken by Peter Van Breukelen. The background features a mix of pinks (matching the windows of the building), oranges and purples.

“Good Vibes” – Zabou – 15x6m – London, UK – 2020

Work in progress:

Photo credit: Zabou

The art organisation Garidell14 invited me to take part in a project taking place in La Cité de Refuge, a homeless shelter in Paris home to 350 people. The building, built by Le Corbusier, has a new extension especially dedicated to women.

I painted a portrait of Becca, a young woman who was homeless as a teenager. After being helped by a shelter in the UK she was able to find a way out through their football program. The wall had a light on the right hand side which I used to create the illusion of a match being lit. This reminded me of the tale of The Little Match Girl: a young girl found herself in the street on a cold night and lights matches to warm herself up, she sees comforting visions and hope in the flame.

“Glimmer of hope” – Zabou – 5x5m – Paris (13), France – 2020

Photo credit: Zabou

Angel Comedy offers free stand up and comedy shows every night in Islington, London. They are a community-oriented association with a mission to help comedians and artists by providing them a platform to express themselves, but also space, advice, workshops, podcasts and much more.

Four years ago I painted the front of their new venue, the Bill Murray pub, when it was just opening. Time for a refresh! The whole front and side of the building have now been included in the redesign. It features 6 portraits of British and international comedians (see details below) with a colourful background. It took about 8 days from the first outlines to complete the full mural.

“Richard Pryor” “Bill Murray” “Whoopi” “Mr Bean & Teddy” “Victoria Wood” “Billy Connolly” – Zabou – 20 x 2,5m – London, UK – 2019

Below: Richard Pryor

Below: Bill Murray, inspired by a photo by Roch Armando

Below: Whoopi Goldberg, inspired by a photo by Timothy White

Below: Rowan Aktinson as Mr Bean and his Teddy!

Below: Victoria Wood, inspired by a photo by Trevor Leighton

Below: Billy Connolly, inspired by a photo by Jeff Vespa

Photo credit: Zabou

My latest mural was made in collaboration with Centrepoint, a charity that helps young people who are homeless by providing accommodation and support for getting them back into education, employment or training. Around Christmas, an estimated 22 000 young people will be homeless.

I painted a portrait of Becca after reading her story. To me, Becca is one of these invisible heroes who has overcome a very dark experience with so much strength, and is now making a positive impact around her. She found herself without a roof at 14 after her dad committed suicide and her grandmother kicked her out (after finding out she was gay). She lived on the streets while going to school, then in a hostel where she discovered the Homeless Street Football programme. Football helped her found a way out: she excelled in it, got selected for the Homeless World Cup and she’s been volunteering as a coach since.

“Becca” – Zabou – 2x3m – London, UK – 2019

Photos credit: Zabou

Despite the cold, it was time to hit this new spot in London near the Kingsland Basin, kindly provided to me by the U7 Lounge. The wall was a complex surface to approach – featuring doors, a large ventilation pipe and a corner. As it is visible from the canal towpath, I chose to paint a seen from the canal life: a young man mooring his narrow boat. The artwork shows the man pulling his boat with a rope over his shoulder, while the rope is going over the pipe and around an anchor painted partly on the ground.

I personally love Regent’s Canal and the breeze of fresh air it gives to Londoners. Whereas you might be cycling along the towpath, walking, jogging or driving your narrow boat, it is a beautiful route that connects us in many ways.

Thanks to the U7 team for the support & to Luca my model!

“By The Canal” – Zabou – 14x5m – London, UK – 2019

Photo credit: Zabou

I met the two little twin sisters Success and Surprise through FutureHackney, a collective of photographers capturing portraits of East Londoners. I took photos of them holding each other and painted a mural at the By The Bridge Cafe in Hoxton.

I love the tenderness and the hope in their eyes. It’s been complicated times for Londoners between Brexit, protests, social displacement, high cost of living and I keep but wondering what does the future hold. At least, Success and Surprise have each other.

“Sisters” – Zabou – 3x4m – London, UK – 2019

Photos credit: Zabou

I flew to Haiti to paint in the capital Port-au-Prince for the 4th edition of the urban culture event FestiGraffiti. Haiti has been through widespread poverty and difficult times (lately: gas shortage and riots) and its people keep fighting for a better future.

I painted on a school three portraits of Haitian girls based on photographs by Maxence Bradley (left, right) and Fabrice Celony (middle portrait). I love how the girls look intensively at the audience, with pride and determination. The design was supposed to include many more elements (masks and outfits from the traditional carnival), sadly the wall owner didn’t let me paint the full design.

Big thanks to the FestiGraffiti team for organising despite the complicated context, to the volunteers and everyone I met during my trip.

“In their Eyes 2” – Zabou – Port-au-Prince, Haiti – 2019

Photo credit: (1) Unknown, All others: Zabou

This year the Cheltenham Paint Festival teamed up with the Literature Festival to celebrate their 70th anniversary, making it the world’s oldest literature festival. I decided to paint a portrait of Shakespear’s Hamlet, when the character recites his famous ‘to be or not to be’ monologue, wondering about his own existence and death. Hamlet is seen holding the skull and looking at it with sadness, while flowers are growing around it. Thanks to the organisers of the festival and Gustavo my model.

“Hamlet” – Zabou – 4x5m – Cheltenham, UK – 2019

Photo credit: Zabou