Transport for London (TfL) has announced five new works in its rich and varied Art on the Underground programme for 2026. The new commissions will give space to underrepresented voices, and the renowned painter Hurvin Anderson will deliver the tenth annual commission in the Brixton Mural Programme in November.
Since its conception in 2000, Art on the Underground has commissioned site-specific works on the TfL network that examine themes of community, space and place, and bring unexpected interactions and new perspectives to the millions who travel on London’s transport network each year. Five new commissions by contemporary artists will launch over the course of the year, inspired by subterranean histories, lost voices and hidden work, exploring historic imbalances and under-representation and reframing public space.
London-based artist, Phoebe Boswell will launch a large-scale photographic artwork at Bethnal Green and Notting Hill Underground stations in March, inspired by local Black swimming communities, while American artist Ellen Gallagher will explore colonial landscapes and marine mythology in her design for the 42nd pocket Tube map.
The third audio artwork commission at Waterloo Underground station will run for 10 days in the summer with the Mayor of London’s Culture and Community Spaces at Risk programme, by London-based composer, artist and DJ Ain Bailey. In September, a largescale artwork by Scottish painter Caroline Walker, spotlighting women who work on the TfL network at night, will be introduced at Stratford station.
In November, a new mural will launch at Brixton Underground station by leading painter Hurvin Anderson. It will be the tenth in a series of annual commissions that responds to the rich history of murals in Brixton from the 1980s, and the wider social and political history of mural making. It will follow Anderson’s upcoming major exhibition at Tate Britain.
2026’s programme is sponsored by specialist recruitment company, Reed, as part of its ongoing commitment to Art on the Underground.
Justine Simons OBE, Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries, said: “For two and a half decades, Art on the Underground has shown how public art can bring joy, spark conversation and connect our communities. This year we have five new commissions to look forward to, which are sure to enrich our journeys and amplify untold stories that celebrate the diversity and resilience of our capital. From Hurvin Anderson bringing his renowned style to Brixton to Phoebe Boswell being inspired by local Black swimming communities, these works will entertain and delight, as we build a better London for everyone.”
Eleanor Pinfield, Head of Art on the Underground, said: “Art on the Underground continues to bring remarkable artists to London, reframing public space and our interactions within it. This year, we present a programme of artworks that explore omissions from public space; works engaging with lost waterways of London, the lost venues that have supported voices in the city and the hidden labour of nighttime workers. We also mark our tenth artwork in the remarkable series at Brixton station, works that go some way to capture the multifaceted nature of Brixton over time. These works, and our wider programme, continue to shape, direct and honour how we collectively experience and remember place – whether that be our local community or spaces we travel through at different times of our lives.”
James Reed, CBE, Chairman and CEO of Reed Employment, said: “I am delighted to continue our sponsorship of Art on the Underground, a programme that gets into the heart of London, influencing how we feel and experience the city each day. As a Londoner, it is very exciting to see or hear new artwork and this programme is rich in new experiences for travellers. I can’t wait to see each project unfold.”
