Croydon residents are invited to get ready for a HUGE surprise, as seven gigantic inflatable artworks are set to transform Croydon town centre into a surreal open-air gallery this Bank Holiday weekend.

From 27 to 31 August, residents and visitors to Croydon are invited to look up, explore and expect the unexpected as larger-than-life sculptures appear on rooftops, bursting from buildings and transforming familiar landmarks in spectacular fashion.

The free walking art trail offers visitors of all ages a playful new way to discover Croydon, with giant tentacles reaching from the iconic Fairfield Halls, supersized sunflowers, a shoal of colourful fish and the biggest paintbrush you’ve ever seen!

Created by renowned artist duo Filthy Luker and their pioneering inflatable design studio Designs in Air, the impossible-to-miss giant art installations will also be illuminated after dark, giving visitors another opportunity to experience the trail during an evening stroll.

Matthew Sims, Chief Executive of Croydon BID, said:

“Unexpected Croydon is our playful rebellion against the everyday, turning the town centre into a larger-than-life open-air gallery filled with colour and creativity. Our high streets need an injection of energy, and these spectacular artworks give people a reason to look up, smile and experience Croydon differently. Best of all, the trail is completely free, offering families and visitors of all ages a joyful escape to experience something different.”

Filthy Luker, Director and Designer at Designs in Air, said:

“Our main motive is to make the world a more surreal and colourful place as a kind of vendetta against the mundane, concrete world we live in. With the ability to blow up giant objects almost anywhere the installations work as beautiful shock-tactics, grabbing the public’s attention. We love to spice up the daily grind and disrupt city skylines with some artful light-hearted anarchy.”

Where to find Unexpected Croydon
The seven installations will be located across Croydon at:

• Centrale Shopping Centre: 21 North End, Croydon, Croydon CR0 1TY
• Croydon Town Hall: Katharine St, Croydon CR0 1NX
• Fairfield Halls: Park Lane, Croydon, CR0 1JD
• North End: 21 North End, Croydon, CR0 1TY
• LSBU Croydon Campus: Electric House, 3 Wellesley Rd, Croydon CR0 2AG
• Ruskin Square Car Park: Dingwall Rd, East, Croydon CR0 2NB
• The Green Dragon: 58-60 High St, Croydon CR0 1NA

The installations have been commissioned by the Croydon Business Improvement District (BID) in collaboration with Designs in Air, whose larger-than-life inflatable sculptures have appeared at major events and exhibitions around the world.

Further information and details about Unexpected Croydon will be published on the Croydon BID’s website and Instagram page.

More information about Fairfield Halls is available online at fairfield.co.uk.