Birmingham 2022 bull mural painted ahead of major street art festival

A striking mural of the iconic, and much-loved, Birmingham 2022 bull – sometimes referred to as the Raging Bull – has been painted in the Ladywood area of the city.

The art was commissioned ahead of the popular High-Vis Festival which takes place every year in Digbeth, the street art hub of Birmingham.

The Birmingham 2022 bull, which premiered during the spectacular opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games at the Alexander Stadium, has quickly become a part of popular art and culture.

The gigantic sculpture, which stands 10-metres high, has gone on to become a mascot of the city and draws thousands of eager sight-seeking visitors to the city centre each day.

The official plan to scrap the sculpture, after the Commonwealth Games closed, was met with universal condemnation and disapproval, and an online campaign was started to save the artwork from being dismantled.

Cllr Ian Ward, leader of Birmingham City Council, later announced that talks would be held with partners to find a way to save the Birmingham 2022 bull from heading to the scrapheap. The animatronic sculpture is currently on display in Centenary Square until the end of September.

As the popularity of the public sculpture continues to grow in the city – and around the world via social media posts – the iconic bull was recently spotted in a proud mural in the Ladywood area of Birmingham.

Painted by tattooist Tokes, the street art is bold and fiery and the mechanical bull seems to glow as it emerges from a backdrop that resembles the furnaces that were once part of the Black Country landscape during the Industrial Revolution.

The dark and fiery orange then curls and merges into the cool and radiant blues of the word ‘Birmingham’ which is painted by artist Medik on the adjacent wall.

Medik’s art incorporates legendary Birmingham landmarks such as the Rotunda, Town Hall, Library of Birmingham, and the BT tower into the letters that form the name of the city which was an essential part of the Industrial Revolution.

The dramatic and pulsating art was commissioned by the organisers of the annual High-Vis Festival which this year takes place at the Tea-Works in Digbeth on Saturday 24 September.

The free public event, which welcomes families, is an annual celebration of street culture. The event includes live painting, graffiti workshops for children, dj’s and live music and spoken word sessions, gaming, skateboard and dance competitions, fashion and footwear, and there is also the chance for visitors to sample some of the best street food in the city during the festival.