Walala Parade: A Bright Transformation in Leyton, East London

An otherwise nondescript East high street has been transformed with a riot of color in what is touted as one of London’s largest-scale public art projects. Internationally-renowned artist Camille Walala has decorated an entire block of shops in Leyton with her signature geometric bright prints, lifting locals’ spirits as they emerge from lockdown.

Residents of Leyton crowdfunded £40,000 to give their neglected high street a makeover this summer. This initiative was part of an appeal raised by street art collective Wood Street Walls and a consortium of local business owners, including Scottish street food café Deeney’s and animation studio Mighty Elk. They believed their high street could benefit from such an artistic intervention. The community-funded project ‘Walala Parade’ stretches across the facades of eight different buildings and will be a permanent feature in Leyton.

“When public art is approached in a collaborative spirit with good intentions and passion, it can significantly and positively affect the communities, residents, and businesses it inhabits,” said Mark Clack of Wood Street Walls. He noted that they started Wood Street Walls to highlight key social issues affecting the city, from the impact of violent crime to the lack of affordable artist workspace, and to promote the local economy while instilling civic pride.

“We also believe painting an entire parade can help stimulate footfall and promote the local economy. Now that more people are working remotely, we hope in this small way it can aid in creating a strong local economy as we emerge from lockdown,” Clack added.

The artwork was not only community-funded but also community-designed. Camille Walala invited Londoners to help shape the final design by voting for their favorite online. Walala has already left her mark in numerous murals across East London, as well as neighborhoods in , , and , attracting clients such as Harrods, Nintendo, Facebook, and Lego along the way.