Derry's Urban Art Gallery opens 'Word on the Street' Exhibition
“It's class to have a new urban arts space right here in Derry"
Derry's Urban Art Gallery, UV Arts, is set to open its 'Word on the Street' Exhibition, displaying a selection of new and unseen works by Graffiti Artist, YIN.
UV Arts, the Urban Art Gallery located at the Garden of Reflection on Derry's Bishop Street, is a local not-for-profit creative social enterprise and the team behind the Derry Girls, Factory Girls and Dalai Lama murals.
The "Urban Art Gallery'' is the first of its kind for the city and aims to encourage a new celebration of Street Art and Contemporary Urban Art bringing a brand-new gallery experience to the city.
The debut exhibition by YIN connects the growing street art movement in the city with a modern and contemporary exhibition space, graffiti store and creative hub for urban artists.
Artists exhibiting are responsible for many of the large-scale murals dotted across the city and district.
Karl Porter of UV Arts said: “It's class to have a new urban arts space right here in Derry.
"We have a fantastic opportunity to reach out and connect with artists from around the world with deep roots right here and to offer a brand-new gallery experience to the public which coincides with our city wide mural and street art movement.
“UV Arts have been working with YIN for years and it’s great to see his exhibition be a highlight of the year for the Urban Art Gallery, I’d advise everyone to get along and see his work."
YIN originally from Livingston, Scotland with family roots in Derry, moved here over 15 years ago. Yin grew up in Livingston, Scotland and Studied Public Arts at Falkirk College.
He previously used to draw, illustrate, and paint portraits while working in CAD design, sculpture and installations, but his heart lay in the street art world.
He was heavily inspired by the subculture of graffiti and hip hop that sweeped the nation from New York and in the early 80’s, he artist started painting graffiti in Scotland at the age of just 13.
YIN mostly works in Derry and Belfast but has left his mark across the UK, Ireland and further afield for nearly four decades producing graffiti, street art and contemporary mural arts.
Launching his first solo exhibition in Derry, there will be canvases, paintings, sculpture and prints of artwork exhibited and for sale.
Based on Bishop Street, “The Urban Art Gallery” is open to the public on Wednesday through Saturday 11am - 5pm. The official 'Word on the Street' exhibition launched with a drinks reception on Friday April 14.