TWO FIFTY ONE: ART in Residence

Article: Christopher George

Designed by award-winning Southwark architects Allies and Morrison, TWO FIFTY ONE is closer to central London than both Vauxhall and Nine Elms, and with the Elephant and Castle becoming the new Central London South, with the Utopian developments happening that are creating a mind boggling city skyline, thriving caffe culture along with Artswork Elephant that is injecting an urban creative buzz at the heart of this vibrant area.

55 visits TWO FIFTY ONE for the opening event from the 35th floor, to sample amazing views and contemporary art and interiors. 

TWO FIFTY ONE, the latest of the Elephant & Castle residential towers, has announced the launch of its Artist in Residence programme. The series of partnerships will bring together some of the city’s most exciting names in the contemporary art world, to support the booming creative scene in London’s SE1. 

Collaborating with names including renowned street artist Pegasus, Stephen Wiltshire who draws vast cityscapes from memory, illustrator and printmaker Jess Wilson, and Instagram photographer Ope O, the programme will see the ambassadors create and exhibit original items that take inspiration from the local sights and sounds in Elephant & Castle. 

The scheme is a modern take on the traditional ‘Artist In Residence’ role that was popular in the 20th century, where many buildings and institutions would partner with nomadic creatives. 

Launching in June, the bespoke commissions will be displayed in an exhibition open to the London public for a month, before being permanently on view in the new development. ​

Each ambassador has donated a selection of prints from the original artwork manifest that TWO FIFTY ONE will sell to both its residents and to the general community. One hundred percent of the proceeds will be donated to charities within the Elephant & Castle, including Cool Tan Arts, a locally based art group that focuses on mental health initiatives. 

Martin Lent, CEO of SCM, the development manager of TWO FIFTY ONE said, 

“The Artist in Residence programme showcases the broad range of artistic talent that this city has to offer. Each artist has taken inspiration from Elephant & Castles’ evolving skyline, heritage and creative culture. Not only are we creating a series of bespoke works to be enjoyed by residents of TWO FIFTY ONE, and locals alike, but also raise funds for local charity Cool Tan Arts, a locally based arts focus group which help fund local well-being work through artists work” 

From inception TWO FIFTY ONE has chosen to focus on the rich arts and culture of the community. The Developers partnered with the nearby London College of Communication in a unique photography competition. The winning twenty-six talented students’ works were chosen after a rigorous selection process by an eminent panel of art experts including Lucinda Bredin of Bonhams Magazine and Caroline Douglas Director of the Contemporary Arts Society. These photographs are for the first time on permanent display in each of the residential corridors in the forty-one storey building. Copies of each winning entry will be on shown during the three-week exhibition.