Sheffield street art has some of the highest standard of quality that I’ve ever seen, and deserves to be more well-known globally as a definitive street art destination. There you go.
I’m sorry to be so abrupt, but that’s genuinely how I feel about this city and its visual prowess, and if I beat around the bush it will only detract from my passionate enthusiasm for this topic. Street art in Sheffield is great and you should see it!
I truly didn’t expect to find as many huge murals and imaginative art pieces here, let alone in so many different and distinctive styles! In addition to a good number of individual pieces by (as yet) unknown creatives, Sheffield also showcases a collective of established local artists, including Kid Acne, Mila K, Faunagraphic and Phlegm (more on him below).
If you’re visiting the UK and you’re staying nearby, I strongly recommend taking some time out of your itinerary to just wander the highways and byways of this fascinating metropolis.
If you happen to be staying in London, and you want to take a break from the London street art scene, you can get a train direct to Sheffield and be there in just 2.5 hours – perfect for a day trip!
The following is just a part of the visual feast that awaits you. As usual, for each piece, we have credited the artist where possible. If you know who is responsible for any of the Sheffield street art shown here, let us know in the comments!
Approaching the Centre
Sheffield’s industrial history lends itself well to the germination of art among its streets. The Industrial Revolution saw a boom for the city, with the importance of the manufacture of Sheffield steel leading to an explosion in the city’s population. This meant the creation of huge amounts of housing and infrastructure. After the bombing raids of WWII, the ensuing reconstruction of the city means that today there is a cornucopia of different building designs for artists to paint on.
And paint on them they have!
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Street Art in Sheffield City Proper
As I have often said in our street art articles, I thoroughly recommend finding these murals organically – stumbling upon something beautiful by chance is my preferred way to discover new street art!
But if you wanted something a little more specific, then you wouldn’t go wrong if you started looking in the area surrounding Wellington Street/Division Street …
For another tip on the rough location of good street art, some of the following pieces of Sheffield street art were found on the roads surrounding Arundel Street.
You might also want to head north towards Green Lane. Just sayin’ …
Phlegm in Sheffield
As you might know from our page on street art, Phlegm is my absolute favourite street artist. The art style, the creativity, the imagination … I just love it all. And the best part is: Sheffield is Phlegm’s main stomping ground!
There are murals by Phlegm all over the city, from Meersbrook in the south all the way to Kelham Island in the north. Each one has unique subject matter, and they often blend creatively into their environment as well, either physically of thematically.
Fun fact: Phlegm gets his name from one of the four substances that the ancient Greeks believed affected all human health and physicality (namely blood, yellow bile, black bile and phlegm). Specifically, phlegm was believed to be responsible for apathy, calmness and a generally peaceful demeanor.
Some Unfortunate Long-Term Damage
It is a sad fact of life for street art that, no matter how good it may be, it is vulnerable. Just like the original wall it’s painted on, anyone can come along and alter it – for good or bad.
Sheffield street art is no exception to this, and it’s a crying shame to see some truly beautiful and creative works of art that have been spoiled. Everyone’s a critic, I guess. But I’m glad these murals exist in the first place, even if they couldn’t remain intact for as long as they could have.
Further Out of the City
Sheffield’s street art also extends to its suburbs. You don’t have to succumb to the draw of the metropolis to find huge, creative murals; artists have spread their considerable talents out to any and all available street art ‘real estate’. If a house has a big, flat wall, it can (and often will) be used here!
Side streets and pedestrian walkways are sometimes a goldmine for random pockets of street art, and Sheffield is no exception. With numerous expansions and civil developments over the years, the city has all manner of winding lanes and pathways for you to explore!
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WANT MORE STREET ART?
– When the City is a Sketchbook: Street Art in Ljubljana
– Street Art in Krakow: Colourful, Cultural and Controversial
– Wandering the Walls of Warsaw: Street Art Guide
– Fall in Love with the Quirky & Unusual Statues of Prague
Have you ever been to Sheffield? How many of these did you see? What are your favourite Sheffield street art pieces that aren’t shown here? Let us know in the comments below!
