Public Art / LSHTM Reception Mural
Reception mural created for the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine’s redevelopment at Tavistock Place.
Painted during the final phase of construction, the work sits within the entrance of the School’s new teaching and research building. Visible from both the reception and the street, the mural forms the first visual encounter with the space.
Titled What if., the composition reflects the spirit of enquiry that underpins the School’s global work in research and public health.
Context
The commission formed part of the transformation of 15–17 Tavistock Place into a new teaching and learning centre.
Installed during an active construction phase, the mural required coordination with contractors and phased access to the reception area.
As LSHTM’s first fossil-fuel-free UK site, the building represents a forward-looking shift in both education and infrastructure. The artwork sits within this broader context of renewal and future focus.
Composition and Approach
The composition draws from LSHTM’s brand palette, reinterpreted through my abstract visual language.
Colour and geometry operate across the wall as a connected field rather than a fixed image. Shapes intersect, overlap and respond to one another, suggesting movement and exchange without prescribing meaning.
Rather than illustrating science directly, the work focuses on the conditions that make it possible: curiosity, openness and the space between questions and answers.
The title, What if., operates as an invitation rather than a statement.
Delivery
The mural was hand-painted on site using high-pigment matt paints selected for clarity and depth of colour.
Working within a partially completed building required careful sequencing and efficient execution. Clean edge control and tonal consistency were essential due to the high visibility of the reception environment.
The installation was completed in November 2025 as part of the wider redevelopment programme.
Outcome
The completed mural establishes a distinct visual identity for the building entrance.
Bright, layered forms introduce warmth and energy into the reception while remaining integrated within the architectural setting.
As both an academic and working environment, the space benefits from a visual intervention that encourages curiosity without overwhelming its function.
Project Details
Commission: London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Location: Tavistock Place, London
Lead Artist: Darren John
Produced by: Absolutely Studio
Surface: Interior plastered wall
Timeline: Installation November 2025