George Michael mural unveiled as part of Brent Borough of Culture celebrations

A huge mural celebrating local hero George Michael has been unveiled in Kingsbury as part of the Brent’s Borough of Culture programme.

Dawn Mellor painted the artwork on the side of an estate agent in the area where the Wham! singer grew up and went to school.

The 9ft mural contains scenes from Michael’s various music videos, including Careless Whisper and Outside, while referencing such songs as Wake Me Up Before You Go Go. Mellor’s mural also pays tribute to the Kingsbury neighbourhood and references another local, John Logie Baird, a scientist who contributed to the invention of the TV.

It is one of 23 new commissions for the first Brent Biennial, which takes place across public spaces in the borough until the end of the year.

Brent Borough of Culture artistic director Lois Stonock told the Standard: “Every young person that you speak to in Brent that went to Kingsbury High is like ‘don’t tell me about George Michael’. It’s been drummed into them.”

Among the other commissions are a second mural, by Pio Abad, which depicts items taken from the Brent Museum Archives.

You can find out more about the Brent Biennial programme here.