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Wokingham Town Council supports public art in the Town. The below are a series of projects we have organised or supported. For more information on Public Art around the Town and in the wider Borough of Wokingham visit the Arts4Wokingham website

Hope, Home and Heimat

Artist: Calina Lefter
Location: The Plaza/Erftstadt Court
Created: 2022

These three artworks were commissioned in 2022 to be reproduced into weatherproof panels to enliven the space in Erftstadt Court, in particular two large grey window coverings and a door covering near the existing mural. The panels were produced by R Young Art Gallery.

You can also see the original paintings on loan to Wokingham Library. You can find out more about the project at the Erftstadt Panels webpage.

Artwork named Hope.
A small town or village of red roofs painting
Artwork named Heimat.
Mural on a wall of a brightly coloured map like view of Wokingham

Erftstadt Court Mural

Artist: Emma Merchant
Location: The Plaza
Created: 2021

This mural, created by local artist Emma Merchant and friend Fiona Webb, covers an area that was plagued by graffiti. It depicts historically significant buildings, wildlife, and places of interest across the town. Each time you stop and look you notice something different.

Wooden Creature Benches

Artist: Stephen Radford
Location: Elms Field
Created: 2020

We worked with Wokingham Borough Council and woodcarver Stephen Radford to take some of the trees felled during the Elms Field development and repurpose them as nature themed benches for the play area and surrounds.

Come and spot the chrysalis, stag beetle, caterpillar and bee. They can be used both as seating and for creative play.

Beastbenches 1
Beastbenches 2
metal sculpture of a song thrush about to take off

Isobel Clifton legacy sculpture

Wokingham Society commissioned this sculpture depicting English Elm, Song Thrush and White-letter Hairstreak Butterfly all native species of the Elms Field area.

Artist: Jane Bonney (Fabricated by Thrussells)
Location: Elms Field
Created: 2020

Wokingham Society Chairman, Peter Must
“We wanted to embrace Ms Elliston Clifton’s idea to do good about the town, so we decided to commission a sculpture in her memory. This is the second sculpture in Wokingham Town Centre, after the Water Babies next to the library. We have placed it in Elms Field to signify what has been lost in the regeneration of Elms Field, as all three of the wildlife depicted are associated with the field. So it is to signify our concerns with conservation, but also to celebrate the regeneration. Thank you to Jane Bonney, who drew the original design, and thank you to Gary and Thomas Thrussell, who embodied Jane’s concept and our hopes for the piece. Thank you also to the regeneration team for incorporating this statue in the park.”

Wokingham Mosaics

Artists: Rosalind Wates and Paul Siggins
Location: Multiple locations (see map)
Created: 2019

Wokingham Town Council worked with local historians Jim Bell and Peter Must to identify historical locations, events and people who could be reflected in the Mosaics. There are a total of 10 mosaics throughout the Town Centre. The initial 7 were created by Rosalind Wates, the latter 3 were created by Paul Siggins.

For more information about this project visit the Wokingham Mosaics webpage

Mosaic of a oak branch with acorns and leaves
Circular mosaic. A stylised outline of a lions head
Circular mosaic. a red poppy on a green background.
Circular mosaic. Stylized firework bursts in pink, yellow and green
Circular mosaic, a pink reel of thread with a needle
A circular mosaic with a stylized bush design.
Silver metal and coloured mosaic fish
Circular black and white mosaic.
Circular mosaic showing an astronaut in a space suit.
Circular mosaic of two Koi carp swimming in a pond
Wooden frame installed outside Wokingham railway Station.

Queen's Diamond Jubilee Frieze

Artist: Wokingham Art Society
Location: Wokingham Railway Station
Created: 2012-14

Wokingham Art Society members painted a 37m by 1m artwork of Queen Elizabeth II’s life that was displayed in Wokingham Town Hall during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Frieze can now be seen outside Wokingham Railway Station as an installation of glazed tiles, double-sided and 7 feet tall, which was unveiled in March 2014 by HRH The Duchess of Gloucester.

Past Works

Chalk About It

Artist: Wokingham Town residents (facilitated by Urban Canvas)
Location: Market Place
Created: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

‘Chalk About It’ was a mental health and wellbeing project that encouraged attendees to chalk on the Market Place. Creating art as a mindful activity or express their thoughts and feelings. It ran yearly from 2021 to 2024 with a different core theme each year. There were opportunities to work together on a collaborative piece or work individually.

Themes
2021 – Hive Minds
2022 – Tree of Life
2023 – Reflect
2024 – Mandala

Overhead of a chalked mandala design on the pavement.
People of all ages adding to a chalked design on the pavement.
Overhead image of forty chalk clouds
People of all ages add chalk to clouds painted on the pavement.
Overhead of people adding to a series of chalk designs on the pavement
Market place with a chalked design on it.
A chalk design on the pavement
People adding to a hive shaped chalk design on the ground.

Peach Street Pillars

Artist: various
Location: Peach Street
Created: 2013

The pillars of the 1960’s built Arcade on Peach Street were identified as a location for some public art and brightening of the Town Centre. Artists were asked to submit designs for the pillars and the chosen designs included a variety of art styles. Local businesses sponsored a number of the pillars.

The pillars were demolished in 2017 for the redevelopment of Peach Street and Peach Place.

Artists
Ami Clarke
Angie Bellus
Jennifer Camilleri
Julia Rogers
Kev Munday
Sarah Pye
Terri Jones
Carole Newman
Christine Morgan

 

Shop fronts with 1960's style architecture.
Pillars decorated with art
Pillars decorated with art. Foreground pillar of bright neon colours.
Pillar painted white with a design of ornate style stained glass
Foreground pillar painted bright yellow with green acorns and a forest
Foreground pillar with a design of local buildings
Foreground pillar painted with an expressionist style.
Foreground pillar painted with brightly coloured faces stacked like a totem pole.
Foreground pillar painted with a tudor style building, oak leaves, fire and a bulls shadow.