London’s Underground network has long been more than just a transport system – it’s a living, breathing art space that has hosted some of the most innovative public artworks in the capital’s history. As Art on the Underground celebrates its 25th anniversary, we look back at how the Tube has transformed into one of London’s most distinctive cultural venues.
The journey began in 2000 with Kendra Haste’s “Underground Safari” at Gloucester Road station, featuring life-like rhino and gazelle sculptures on a disused platform. This pioneering installation set the tone for what would become an ambitious program of public art that has continuously surprised and delighted London’s commuters.
Gloucester Road station, with its unique disused platform space, has become something of an unofficial gallery for the Underground network. It hosted several groundbreaking exhibitions, including American artist Cindy Sherman’s striking Billboard Commission in 2003 and Heather Philipson’s surrealist “my name is lettie eggsrub” in 2018, featuring giant eggs and oversized props that transformed the platform into a wonderland of contemporary art.
One of the most ambitious projects came in 2007 when artist Jim Isermann created the first artwork to cover an entire Tube train, wrapping a Piccadilly line train in a geometric pattern that delighted passengers throughout that summer. This was followed by Mark Wallinger’s remarkable 2013 project marking the Underground’s 150th anniversary, where he created unique labyrinth plaques for every single station – a permanent installation that enthusiasts still hunt down today.
The program has also reflected London’s position as a global city. Following the Brexit referendum in 2016, the #LondonIsOpen campaign saw ten artists create works across the network celebrating the capital’s internationalism and diversity. In 2019, British-Ghanaian artist Larry Achiampong reimagined the iconic Underground roundel at Westminster station in Pan-African colours, demonstrating how the Tube’s most recognizable symbol could be reinterpreted for modern London.
Recent years have seen even more ambitious projects, including Alexandre da Cunha’s kinetic sculpture at Battersea Power Station – the network’s first moving artwork – and the revival of historic 1920s mosaics at St James’s Park station featuring androgynous, angelic figures watching over today’s commuters.
For London enthusiasts, these art installations represent more than just decoration – they’re a continuation of the Underground’s long tradition of outstanding design, from the Johnston typeface to Harry Beck’s revolutionary map. Art on the Underground has proven that even in our digital age, the Tube remains one of London’s most important cultural spaces.
The program continues to evolve, turning London’s vast transport network into what might be the world’s largest public art gallery, seen by millions every day. For visitors to London, these artworks provide an extra dimension to Tube journeys, turning everyday commutes into cultural experiences and ensuring that London’s Underground remains not just a way to travel, but a destination in itself.
Here’s a gallery of the various art installations from over the years:
Author: Jonathan Thomas
Jonathan is a consummate Anglophile who launched Anglotopia.net in 2007 to channel his passion for Britain. Londontopia is its sister publication dedicated to everything London.