Graffiti artist Gent 48 has been announced as the October featured artist for DRAW!, a nation-wide drawing project presented by Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture and inspired and supported by Bradford-born artist David Hockney. Gent 48 has selected the theme Street Style, in reference to the urban creative culture shaped by ordinary people.
Gent 48, also known as Joshua Billingham, is a graffiti artist from Birmingham recognised internationally for his vivid character paintings and large-scale murals. With over two decades of artistic experience, Gent 48 has created a drawing this month in his signature bold 3D style, capturing a graffiti artist frozen mid-spray, inviting viewers to join him in the creative moment.
Gent 48 says, “In graffiti, drawing is everything. The wall starts in the sketchbook – every letter, every flow, every wild idea begins with a line. Drawing is where style is born, where you test your limits before the paint hits the brick. Without drawing, the culture doesn’t move forward.”
DRAW! invites people from across the UK to take part by creating and sharing a drawing inspired by a particular theme set by a different artist each month. It aims to encourage people of all ages to pick up a pencil, pen or iPad and reflect on our everyday lives through drawing.
The public can share their drawings inspired by the theme of ‘Street Style’ by uploading them to bradford2025.co.uk/mydrawing or share them through social media with the hashtag #bradford2025 or by tagging @bradford_2025.
A selection of drawings will be displayed on the Bradford 2025 website each month.
Bradford 2025 is running drawing workshops for adults and children throughout the year, and involved in the project will be local, national and international artists, graphic designers, illustrators, animators, cartoonists – with a new theme and drawing revealed each month. Previous artists have included: David Hockney, Adébayo Bolaji, Jason Wilsher-Mills, Rose Blake, Dame Zandra Rhodes, Harry Hill, Morag Myerscough, Kate Jackson, and Faiza Butt.
bradford2025.co.uk/event/draw/
DRAW! is supported by Bradford District and Craven Mind.
