Street art exhibit celebrates local creative scene

22 hours ago

Shariqua AhmedPeterborough

News image — The street arts exhibition is running between 7 February and 23 May at the Peterborough Museum in Priestgate

Emma Baugh/BBC A white wall inside the museum room with four colourful murals painted on it. — The street arts exhibition is running between 7 February and 23 May at the Peterborough Museum in Priestgate

A new exhibition celebrating more than two decades of graffiti and street art culture in a city has opened in a museum.

Diesel Streets: A Peterborough Wall Story, by Nathan Murdoch at Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery, explores how street art has shaped the artist's life and the city's visual identity.

It focused on themes of class, belonging and resilience and has given visibility to communities often excluded from traditional gallery spaces, Murdoch said.

Murdoch added: "Diesel Streets isn't about glorifying graffiti - it's about telling a story that inspired a generation of artists like me."

Emma Baugh/BBC Nathan, a man, with short light brown hair, wearing a yellow zipped-jacket and a white shirt, smiling for the camera. — Nathan Murdoch, 38, has transformed several spaces with street art across Peterborough

"The stories written on these walls raised me as much as any classroom. This show is my flowers for Peterborough's subculture - a culture that forever changed my life," he added.

The exhibition includes a tribute to Y2SK8 - a space that played an important role in Peterborough's skate and graffiti scene - and an interactive installation where visitors can add their name to a train, reflecting the graffiti idea of being seen and leaving a mark.

Supplied A pile of spray paint cans with a mural behind them. — The exhibition combines spray paint, archival material, and new works to explore how street art has shaped the city

A free programme of artist-led talks and workshops will accompany the exhibition, supported by the Arts Council, with creative workshops for young people during the Easter holidays.

Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery said it had been working with Murdoch for many years and first discussed a solo exhibition in 2020.

A spokesperson for the museum said: "Nathan is a proud Peterborian and his work highlights the creativity and positivity in a city that is often overlooked for its artistic output. We are delighted to bring street art into the gallery space."

Pep Cipriano, of Peterborough Positive, said the exhibition reflected the growing role of street art, helping transform everyday spaces into meaningful cultural landmarks that tell authentic local stories.

Peterborough Positive, the city's business improvement district body, recently launched a new street art trail and map celebrating the collection of murals in the city.

The exhibition will run until 23 May.