A MURAL dedicated to a Colchester musician has appeared in the city centre.
The bright piece features an oil encapsulation of Blur’s frontman Damon Albarn, who grew up in Colchester.
Maria Barnes, who used to busk the band’s songs on the city’s streets, is the artist behind the masterpiece.
The singer and self-taught artist took up oil painting after lockdown had an impact on the entertainment industry, and she has created other celebrity portraits.
The mural is part of the Street Stories Colchester project which aims to improve the appearance of empty city centre shops by installing large scale artwork.
They also feature an immersive augmented reality experience which passers-by can enjoy by downloading a free smartphone app.
Our Colchester, the city’s business improvement district, says the scheme is a “creative and innovative project which will help to highlight commercial space, create an attractive environment, and give residents and visitors an insight into Colchester’s rich heritage”.
The installation of the new mural comes after Blur announced they would be returning to Colchester for a special one-off gig on May 19 at Colchester Arts Centre ahead of a European tour in the summer.
Who is Damon Albarn?
Damon, who is originally from east London but grew up in Aldham, near Colchester, is best known as the frontman of the rock band Blur and co-creator of the virtual band Gorillaz.
He was a pupil at the Stanway School, in Winstree Road, Colchester, when he met Graham Coxon and formed Blur.
The band released their debut album Leisure in 1991.
Last month, the musician performed at Coachella, which is one of the world’s biggest music festivals held in California, USA.
The 55-year-old performed alongside his band Gorillaz and was joined by collaborators including Slowthai, Thundercat, and De La Soul.
Speaking to KROQ, he said: “I’m extremely lucky because I get to do a lot of different things.
“Variety is definitely the spice of my life.”
In November, Colchester councillors said they were keen for Blur to return to the city for a performance in their hometown and were delighted to receive the news the band had agreed to a homecoming gig at Colchester Arts Centre.
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