Created by acclaimed Lewisham-born artist Molly Hankinson, the vibrant artwork transforms the brickwork on Molesworth Street into a colourful and welcoming public space inspired by the spirit, creativity and memories of Lewisham.

Known for her highly stylised, narrative-driven murals inspired by communities, Hankinson’s work explores themes of safety, space, and perception, weaving personal and collective stories into her bold and contemporary artworks.

The mural has been sponsored by Lewisham Shopping Centre as part of its continued investment in Brockley Max Festival to support local culture and public space, and draws heavily on the artist’s childhood memories of growing up in Lewisham.

Molly Hankinson commented: “When I remember growing up in Lewisham, and think back to my earliest exposure to the concept of murals, I immediately thought of Mr Pink’s brightly coloured house on Loampit Hill. He was a much-loved member of the community and, as a kid, I remember seeing him tend to his garden and sit on his brightly painted porch. Sadly, since he died the house has fallen into disrepair, but I wanted to incorporate elements into my design that nod to his character and creativity.”

The mural’s colours and abstract background shapes are inspired by the stucco textures and painted details of Mr Pink’s interiors (captured by Helena Appio’s beautiful short film ‘A Portrait of Mr Pink’) while the composition is inspired by one of Molly’s earliest memories of interacting with art at home.

Hankinson added: “My parents had placemats of celebrated Czech artist, Alphonse Mucha’s work ‘The Seasons’ when I was growing up and I loved the powerful dynamic stances of each of the figures. I thought that their elongated poses were a great starting point for approaching the scale and dimensions of the pillar.”

The mural’s vivid colour palette also reflects memories of Lewisham Market, drawing inspiration from the green and white tarpaulins, fresh fruit and vegetables, and the energy and vibrancy of the town centre.

The mural forms part of a wider street art programme commissioned for this year’s Brockley Max Festival, which has brought three new public artworks by local artists to Lewisham, Brockley and Ladywell.

In Ladywell, artist Barnie XYZ has reimagined the gates of the historic Ladywell Playtower with a floral design inspired by its gothic windows, while in Brockley, OrbitLDN has created a new exterior mural for Pistachios in the Park.

Together, the artworks celebrate Brockley Max Festival’s commitment to making art free, accessible and rooted in the local community. Residents, visitors and festivalgoers are invited to explore the murals through a self-guided trail accompanied by a specially commissioned map sponsored by Lewisham Shopping Centre, showcasing artworks commissioned by the festival over the past 25 years.

Paul Redden, Centre Director at Lewisham Shopping Centre, said: “Brockley Max is a fantastic celebration of local creativity, and we’re delighted to be sponsoring both this year’s festival and the creation of a new mural within Lewisham. Supporting the local community and creating opportunities for artists and performers to thrive is central to what we do.

“We’re pleased to unveil this wonderful, eye-catching mural at Lewisham Shopping Centre and showcase the talent within our local community. Our long-standing presence in Lewisham is reflected in our plans to redevelop the centre, including new public spaces and a dedicated music venue with performance, rehearsal and production facilities that will further strengthen the area’s cultural offer.

“As part of the redevelopment, we want to support local artists and provide a canvas for creative talent to leave a lasting mark on Lewisham.”

Lewisham Shopping Centre has been part of the town centre since 1997 and continues to invest in improving its spaces and customer experience while supporting businesses and brands that serve the local community. The centre is currently undergoing a phased redevelopment that will create a new green district above a reimagined shopping destination, including a family park and wild meadow. Plans also include new p`ublic spaces, shops, cafés, restaurants, bars and a dedicated music venue, alongside thousands of new jobs and an estimated £160 million annual contribution to the local economy. The shopping centre will remain open throughout the redevelopment, allowing visitors to continue shopping and enjoying the town centre as works progress.

For more information, please visit: https://www.lewishamshopping.co.uk