BRIGHTON & HOVE.- A multi-coloured mural celebrating Brighton & Hove has been unveiled in Brighton Museum & Art Gallery.
Designed by Brighton-based illustrator Soofiya, the artwork is designed to set residents and visitors musing about why Brighton is such a great city.
Called BRIGHTON AND HOVE IS… the vibrant mural celebrates Brighton & Hove's rich diversity and culture, featuring multigenerational characters and iconic elements like nature, landmarks, historical buildings and Pride flags. Its bold, colourful palette brings expressive moods and activities to life and invites viewers to explore a story filled with hidden details, offering a playful, “Where’s Wally?” style experience. Speech bubbles add light-hearted commentary on modern social and cultural themes, encouraging reflection on Brighton’s identity.
With its clean, accessible design, the mural is a celebration of community, creativity, and connection and has been installed while major renovation work takes place to the roof of the museum.
Soofiya was awarded the commission following a call out for pitches by Brighton & Hove Museums (B&HM) which attracted over 90 artists, illustrators and creatives responding.
In November, metalworkers Nat Bradwell, known as The Iron Lady and Georgie Sworder installed a nine-metre steel tunnel called Vanishing Forest, exploring the wildlife and nature of Sussex woodland and the effects of climate change on the environment.
A 2019 Condition Survey found the roof of the Museum needed urgent repairs to the Georgian glass lantern above the central main gallery. The work will mean the 20th Century Gallery will be closed for around eight months while the restoration takes place. A crash deck will be erected and each side of the gallery will be shut off to the public by large structural hoarding.
The museum will be open during the work, so B&HM wants to use the space to remain culturally interesting by celebrating working artists.
Artist Soofiya said: “Winning the commission was a great feeling, I love that my work can be showcased at the gallery, especially in a city that I call home. I’m excited to contribute something special to Brighton’s cultural landscape and to bring illustrations to a public space.”
B&HM Kate Turnbull, Head of Marketing, Digital and Communications said: "As a city that thrives on creativity, inclusivity, and diversity, this mural is a vibrant reflection of what makes Brighton & Hove such a special place. We’re delighted to showcase Soofiya’s work, which not only celebrates our community’s spirit but also invites visitors to explore the rich cultural tapestry that defines our city."
You can follow the progress of the roof project in Brighton & Hove Museum’s website and social media for regular updates about the work and progress.
Q & A with illustrator Soofiya
Soofiya is a Brighton-based visual artist and design lecturer, known for exploring themes of race, gender, and bodies through bold lines and bright colours. With a background in graphic design, Soofiya’s work is playful, pattern-rich, and often influenced by 80s aesthetics and a love of their cat, Aloo.
Soofiya's clients span the arts and culture sector, including Tate, V&A, Nike, and BBC. A regular lecturer at Brighton University and University of the Arts in London, their work has been exhibited globally, from Tate Modern to Parsons School of Design in New York and is archived in institutions like the National Poetry Library and Tate Britain’s Archives.
Soofiya has created a ‘Brighton & Hove is…’ mural to go on the south wall of the 20th Century Gallery in Brighton Museum & Art Gallery while work is being carried out on the roof in the museum.
Soofiya was awarded the commission after an artist’s call out attracted dozens of entries.
Why did you apply for the commission?
I love Brighton & Hove - it’s a wonderful city, and one that I feel lucky to call home, so when I saw this commission opportunity, I wanted to celebrate that and celebrate my Brighton too. I’ve lived here for four years and feel very happy and connected to the city. I teach at Brighton University and am actively involved in a variety of local communities from the community led housing to the arts and culture scene. This opportunity felt like a natural extension of my practice, allowing me to engage with the local community while exploring themes of identity, race, and belonging. The chance to bring these important discussions into such a significant cultural space was one I couldn’t pass up.
Tell us about your plans for a mural in Brighton Museum & Art Gallery?
My proposal for this mural was inspired by a project I did for Yorkshire Sculpture Park titled “Love is Joy.” For that commission, I created a mural celebrating all forms of love as part of their Season of Love events.
It emphasised love as both a collective and individual action, inviting the audience to define love and community care. For Brighton Museum, I proposed an expansion of that concept, but with a specific focus on the city, titled “Brighton & Hove is...” The mural celebrates Brighton’s unique diversity and spirit, offering a visually bold reflection of its communities and history.
It invites viewers to engage with the idea of what makes Brighton special, creating a space for reflection, celebration, and dialogue.
Are the people featured in your work real?
Yes and no, the people illustrated represent different types of people from all over the city. I want them to embody the people, the flavour, and the communities of Brighton & Hove. I have sneaked in a few friends and my cat, Aloo, who is the love of my life! See if you can spot her, she’s a calico cutie! My illustrations are often a blend of symbolic and real representations, capturing both individual personalities and collective experiences. This allows me to tell a broader story about the city while maintaining a personal touch.
What places will you feature?
There are lots of Brighton & Hove places including the Royal Pavilion, Downs, the Pier and the West Pier – they are not geographically to scale but I’ve included lots of places and landmarks I hope people will recognise.
How do you work?
I sometimes sketch things out in my sketchbook but I primarily work digitally, so that includes my iPad, drawing software and my laptop. Which gives me the flexibility to work from almost anywhere. Whether that's from bedroom with my cat by my side or from my fave Brighton and Hove cafes or in a co-working space with other freelance friends.
Tell us about your other work?
My work spans a variety of mediums, from illustration and book design to visual identity work, I love working with bold lines and vibrant colours to communicate complex ideas about everything from race, gender, food, to my life with my cat in an accessible and playful way. I’ve worked with clients like Tate Modern, Nike, and Vice, but I also enjoy personal projects that allow for more experimentation and often publish zines and regular web comics on my Instagram. Recently, I’ve been doing a lot of book illustration work and have a few books coming out this year that I’ve illustrated.
What else do you do in your life?
Lots of thing! I’m actively involved in several community projects. I’m part of a running club called Bad Run Club for bad runners; good runners are not welcome! I also run a Zine Club and a Freelancer Friday meet-up, offering spaces for creatives to connect and collaborate. I co-founded a Print and Paper Collective with a colleague, where we host workshops focused on printmaking and paper arts.
Outside of community work, I love spending time with my cat, Aloo, eating good food and sea swimming. A textbook Brighton and Hove life!
How do you feel about winning the commission for the work at Brighton Museum & Art Gallery?
Winning the commission was a great feeling, I love that my work can be showcased at the gallery, especially in a city that I call home. I’m excited to contribute something special to Brighton’s cultural landscape and to bring illustrations to a public space.
