Ray Walker (1945–1984) was an English artist, considered among the most prominent of a movement of political and community orientated artists who created
mural
A mural is any piece of Graphic arts, graphic artwork that is painted or applied directly to a wall, ceiling or other permanent substrate. Mural techniques include fresco, mosaic, graffiti and marouflage.
Word mural in art
The word ''mural'' ...
s in London during the 1970s and 1980s.
Walker was born in Toxteth, Liverpool, UK. After completing study at Liverpool School of Art (
Liverpool College of Art
Liverpool College of Art has an unbroken history dating back to 1825, making it the oldest English school of art outside London. From 1883 it was located at 68 Hope Street, Liverpool, England, in a building designed by Thomas Cook, which is no ...
) and the
Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art (RCA) is a public university, public research university in London, United Kingdom, with campuses in South Kensington, Battersea and White City, London, White City. It is the only entirely postgraduate art and design uni ...
in London, Walker became a prolific and outstanding painter of public murals in London through the 1970s until his untimely death in 1984. A large memorial retrospective exhibition of the artist's paintings was held at the
Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,700-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London, England. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge, in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is a G ...
, London in 1985. The Hackney Peace Mural was designed by Ray Walker but the painting (in
Keimfarben
KEIMFARBEN GMBH is a medium-sized company based in Diedorf near Augsburg. It belongs to the Leonhard Moll AG Group and is one of the world's leading manufacturers of silicate paints. Buildings such as the White House, Mariinskyi Palace, Buckingh ...
silicate paint) was executed in 1985 by his colleague and friend, Mick Jones, and Ray's wife, Anna Walker, following his death. The mural is dedicated to the memory of the artist and also features a portrait of the artist.
Publications
Ray Walker - published by the Ray Walker Memorial Committee for an exhibition at the Royal Festival Hall, 17 May-16 June, 1985Ray Walker - Murals Paintings and DrawingsRay Walker - Murals Paintings and Drawings
For Walls With Tongues, An Oral History of Street Murals 1966-1985 ed. Carol Kenna & Steve Lobb pub. Greenwich Mural Workshop
External links
Hackney Peace Mural
{{DEFAULTSORT:Walker, Ray
20th-century English painters
English male painters
English muralists
1945 births
1984 deaths
Alumni of Liverpool College of Art
20th-century English male artists
People from Toxteth