Croydon Stands Tall

Croydon Stands Tall

Homelessness is not a choice, but rather a journey that many find themselves in.

Art Trail and Alec’s Artwork:

Croydon Business Improvement District (BID), in partnership with creative producers Wild in Art, proudly presents the captivating ‘Croydon Stands Tall’ art trail, an unmissable 10-week experience from August 21st to October 27th. Transforming the streets of Croydon into an open-air gallery, the trail features over 30 majestic giant giraffe sculptures, each a unique canvas reflecting the creativity of local artists, schools, and communities. Among these remarkable creations, stands Alec’s giraffe sculpture for the charity Crisis & @centralewhitgift.

This @wildinart Croydon Stands Tall art trail will see dozens of giraffes hit the Croydon streets in August. The piece is called ‘Concrete Jungle’ takes inspiration from the town centre and Croydon’s green spaces. “The thing I love about Croydon most is its complex diversity, not just in its cultures, styles, food, music & ethnicities, but in its landscape & rich heritage, I wanted to represent the borough through a blend of the green of a jungle (as Croydon is one of London’s greenest boroughs) with the more commonly known citified, concrete landscape that dominates the centre. At the same time, it is a mixed-media, abstract eruption of vibrant colour and patterns celebrating the distinctive blend of people in Croydon”. All the money raised from the auctions of the giraffes will go to @crisis_uk to help combat homelessness in Croydon. This art trail is part of London’s borough of culture 2023.

Supporting a Worthy Cause

More than an artistic showcase, the ‘Croydon Stands Tall’ trail serves a greater purpose. Following weeks of admiration, exploration, and engagement, these stunning giraffe sculptures unite for a farewell weekend before embarking on a new journey. Through a special auction event, these artworks will find new homes while raising essential funds for Crisis Skylight Croydon. Crisis Skylight Croydon is dedicated to tackling homelessness and its underlying causes, providing vital support to those in need. By joining the ‘Croydon Stands Tall’ experience, you’re not only embracing the beauty of art but also contributing to meaningful change in the community.

Concrete Jungle has had some great coverage in the press. Being shown on The BBC and ITV as well as many newspapers.

 

Creating a Legacy

After being selected as one of the professional artists to represent the trail I wanted my students to have the experience to exhibit their art in a public space whilst also contributing to their community. A whole school inclusive project where every child submitted at-least one entry to represent our school in design and name. I chose the winner ‘Puzzle’ for the children to paint.

Over 500 fingerprints are represented on Puzzle’s base from all pupils and adults that attend the school 

I have teamed up with some young people to create their own giraffe.

 

After the success of our first Giraffe ‘Puzzle’ we are asked by Croydon Bid to create a second which we named ‘Tropicanta’ Please check out the Croydon Stands Tall App to find out more.

I look forward to working with Wild in Art again soon.

 

Meet Alec

Meet Alec

A short film by Roon Sharma on how I’m trying to harness my platform to promote diversity and inspire the next generation.

A huge thanks to Roon for producing this film and the new Matthews Yard art hub in West Croydon for letting us film there. You can see more of my work on display and even purchase a piece when they re-open on the 26th August.

No one is illegal on stolen land

No one is illegal on stolen land

‘The First People’ has just popped up on Park Street in Croydon opposite The Slug & lettuce.

Mixed media collage With spray paint, 24K Gold leaf, acrylic, ink & dollars (not real).

“I was born upon the prairie, where the wind blew free, and there was nothing to break the light of the sun. I was born where there were no enclosures, and where everything drew a free breath…I know every stream and every wood between the Rio Grande and the Arkansas. I have hunted over that country. I lived like my fathers before me, and like them, I lived happily.”

Ten Bears

WIP

Process of creating the original canvas.

Scribble NFT

Canvas available

Mixed media collage With spray paint, 24K Gold leaf, acrylic, ink & real American dollars.

£1500 

 

Canvas available starting from £1500

The Ends Festival 2019

The Ends Festival 2019

Summer 2019 was Croydon’s first Ends Festival where I was the resident artist & my work was scattered around the festival and either side of the main stage. The late Nipsey Hustle was supposed to perform at the festival along with Nas, Damian Marley, Wizkid, Burna Boy etc but was killed months before the festival.

I remember when Nip first burst on the scene many years ago when my cousin Jordan bought him to my attention. A unique style & outlook on life. “While most folks look at the Crenshaw neighbourhood where he grew up and see only gangs, bullets and despair, Nipsey saw potential,” Obama said. 

He saw hope. He saw a community that, even through its flaws, taught him to always keep going. His choice to set an example for young people to follow — is a legacy worthy of celebration. I hold these same values for our Croydon.

I chose to paint his attire in purple (Red & Blue) to portray the peace between LA Blood & Crip Street gangs that Nipseys tragic passing inspired after decades of fighting.

Nipsey Hussle's Impact on Los Angeles One Year After He Passed | Teen Vogue

 I’m honoured to have been commissioned for this piece by the festival & this piece will be hand delivered to his family in LA by one of the festivals leaders as a gift.

Spray paint, Acrylic, posca & gold leaf on bespoke canvas.

Some images of the pieces of art commissioned & some of the people that enjoyed and shared the artworK.

AlecLDN @ Matthews Yard: What’s Hanging?

AlecLDN @ Matthews Yard: What’s Hanging?

SOLhI’m very excited for my debut solo exhibition, starting on 3rd August until 30th August, at Matthew’s Yard, Croydon.  Food and drink will be flowing from brgandbeer and there will be music from CroydonFM.

Below are details of the main pieces that will be hanging during my month’s residency at Matthews Yard.


Peace II ‎‫سلام‬ II

Peace II ‎‫سلام‬ II  – £695
Second piece on this subject,  Mixed Media collage, recycled paper, acrylic, spray paint, ink and gold leaf on framed canvas.‬

Gold Leaf Hand Finished A3 Prints available at £19 each

A1 Size £39

A0 Size £55


Mino

Mino – £895
Mixed media collage on wood. Gold leaf, Acrylic, spray paint, oil paint, ink, paper and posca.

Gold Leaf Hand Finished A3 Prints available at £19 each

A1 Size £39

A0 Size £55

 


‘You Can’t Sit With Us’ Series

‘You can’t sit with us’ is taken from the film Mean Girls where I have replaced the spoilt, narcissistic teenage characters such as Regina George from the film with some of the leaders of the world which have all changed since the original piece.  I have also included those suffering from these leaders’ decisions and policies.

10% of all sales of the series will be donated to the re-build charity, which helps integrate refugees of conflict and natural disasters into British society and supports the reconstruction  of their homelands.

You Cant Sit With Us II

You can’t sit with us II – £595 – 10% of sale going to re-build
Mix media collage of a child refugee on Financial Times paper also with recycled paper, spray paint, acrylic, water colour, ink, posca, pencil & signed in gold leaf.

You can’t sit with us III

You can’t sit with us III – £695 – 10% of sale going to re-build
The Trump Administration seeks to prevent refugees who pass through Mexico from receiving asylum in the United States. “No One Leaves Home Unless Home Is The Mouth Of A Shark”

Mix media collage of a Mexican refugee on Financial Times paper, Dollar bills, recycled paper, spray paint, ink, posca, pencil & signed in gold leaf.

Cant Sit With Us IV

You can’t sit with us IV – £595 – 10% of sale going to re-build
Mix media collage of a child refugee on Financial Times paper also with recycled paper, spray paint, acrylic, water colour, ink, posca, pencil & signed in gold leaf.

Cant-Sit-With-Us-V

You can’t sit with us V – £650 – 10% of sale going to re-build
Painting of a child refugee, signed in gold leaf on bespoke framed canvas


‘American Dream’ Series

The ‘American Dream’ pieces are an ongoing series on the theme of US corporate greed, cultural insensitivity and centuries of ethnic cleansing.

American Dream V

American Dream V – SOLD 
Collage made entirely of American currency and packaging even the skin is made from Recycled McDonald’s bags.

American Dream IV

American Dream VI – SOLD
Collage made entirely of American currency and packaging even the skin is made from Recycled McDonald’s bags.

American Dream VII – SOLD
Collage made entirely of American currency and packaging even the skin is made from Recycled McDonald’s bags.


‘Just because we don’t say doesn’t mean we don’t see’

‘Just because we don’t say doesn’t mean we don’t see’ – Gifted to Windrush Charty
Mix Media collage on bespoke framed canvas.


‘Anti-Social Media’ Series

Facebook says “Spending time with friends and family creates many of our most meaningful memories”

Friends will celebrate by posting a picture or message and then completely ignore that person in the street. People will fabricate a false lifestyle to show the world how well they are doing or how happy they are but in truth this is just as mask for struggle, the fear of mediocrity or sadness.

This is a further step on the road to us all interacting with each other through a device actually controlled by multinational corporations while we go on believing that it is we that are in control.

Instagram and Facebook have caused endless amounts of pain and heartache through telling us how we should look, causing an explosion of vanity that forces people to care more about likes and follows than self worth, substance & love.

Facebook is used as a tool for bullying, grooming, spamming, spying, stalking, lying and so on. It kills relationships it creates doubt and social media in general causes the collapses of family’s and relationships which I have sadly witnessed several times to people close to me.

Anti-Social Media – SOLD
Spray paint, Gold leaf, Acrylic, ink, pencil, metal, recycled paper on surf board.


Choke

‘Choke’ – SOLD
Mix Media collage on canvas, recycled paper, Acrylic Paint, ink, spray paint, magic marker, posca and gold leaf.


Amanaki

‘Amanaki’ – SOLD
Mixed media collage on bespoke canvas. Spray paint, 24K gold leaf, acrylic, posca and ink.


Santan Dave

‘Santan Dave’ – £495 
Spray paint, silver leaf & gold leaf on bespoke canvas made from a reused wooden palette.


Love CR0

‘Love CR0’ – SOLD 
One of three photo collage collaboration pieces I’ve made with the photographer Ross Andrews.