On Tuesday, six large scale egg sculptures arrived in Carnaby Street, transforming the iconic destination into a live art gallery as part of The Big Egg Hunt, a city-wide Easter celebration in partnership with the Elephant Family trust. Until 27th April, The Big Egg Hunt will showcase over 100 uniquely designed eggs created by leading figures from the worlds of art, design, fashion, jewellery, and food, in support of Asian wildlife charity Elephant Family.
On Tuesday, the six Carnaby Street eggs were decorated live by renowned artists Luke Smile, Navinder Nangla, OPAKE, Ricky Also, Mr Cenz, and Penfold. Passersby had the rare opportunity to watch these artists in action as they transformed the sculptures into striking works of art. After the live painting, the egg sculptures will join the wider Big Egg Hunt and be on display in Soho’s favourite foodie destination, Kingly Court, where they will remain on display until 27th April.
Visitors will be encouraged to hunt down all of the eggs and scan each dedicated QR code to unlock an exclusive reward from participating restaurants and cafes in Soho.
When the exhibition ends, these incredible sculptures will be auctioned to raise vital funds for Elephant Family, the charity dedicated to tackling the challenges facing Asia’s wildlife and the communities that live alongside them.
About the Artists
Luke Smile – ‘Wisdom in Strength’
Luke Smile is British artist and designer, known for his captivating typographic artworks that combine traditional sign writing methods with spray paint and hand-cut stencils, achieving heavily textured yet precise arrangements. Smile Sans, his most frequently used lettering is recognised worldwide. You’ll always find his work accompanied by his signature smiley.
The ‘Wisdom in Strength’ egg honours the profound qualities of elephants — creatures celebrated for their remarkable balance of intelligence and power. It reflects the idea that true strength stems from knowledge, experience, and sound judgment rather than force alone. This piece serves as a reminder to draw on wisdom to navigate challenges, resolve conflicts, and inspire those around us
Navinder Nangla – ‘Pashionate 4 Elefantz’
Navinder Nangla is an artist, designer, and stylist who utilises the mediums of art and fashion to convey his unique language and interpretations of the world he inhabits. Navinder’s most noteworthy work, “Fassion Langwitch,” is a powerful expression of his artistic identity, breaking free from the constraints of dyslexia. Nangle transforms global cities like London, New York, MUMBAI, Paris & South Korea & BEYOND into his canvases.
‘Pashionate 4 Elefantz’ is a striking fusion of Navinder Nangla’s signature style and a heartfelt message for Elephant Family. Using his bold black, white, and red palette, playful wordplay, and iconic red squiggle, Nangla transforms this sculpture into a powerful statement. This “eggcellent” creation highlights the urgent need to protect Indian elephants, blending art and activism to inspire awareness and action for their preservation.
Opake – ‘What a Mess’
OPAKE is a prominent London-based artist whose work merges graffiti, pop art, and personal reflection. He reimagines iconic cartoon characters like Mickey Mouse and Pink Panther in ways that delve into deeper themes of mental health, addiction, and the breakdown of pop culture. His unique style, which he calls “the disintegration of pop culture” often features bold colours and overlapping imagery that create a chaotic yet captivating experience.
Opake’s egg is a powerful representation of his signature graffiti-meats-pop-art style. The monochromatic black and white design is layered with chaotic, overlapping text with ink dramatically dripping down the contours of the egg. The raw, unfiltered aesthetic mirrors the energy of street art, making the sculpture an eye-catching and thought-provoking piece that invites viewers to decipher the tangled words and meaning within its layers.
Ricky Also – ‘Fragile’
Ricky Also’s love for typography, colour and layout are the product of his background in graffiti art and graphic design. Drawing on these influences he features exaggerated & manipulated letterforms creating a unique sense of movement and rhythm, playing with the sizes to transform spaces and environments. Ricky applies his art to a wide range of projects nationally, working through his creative practice, Paintshop (paintshopstudio.com).
Ricky Also’s egg uses a rich natural palette of pinks, purples, and deep forest tones, blending seamlessly, evoking a sense of harmony and interconnectedness, while bold black lettering wraps around the egg, spelling out the word “FRAGILE” in striking capital letters. This juxtaposition between the delicate colour work and the commanding typography reinforces the artwork’s message—reminding us to handle with care. Our world is more fragile than we think.
Mr Cenz – ‘Egg-lectric’
Mr Cenz, a London-based graffiti artist, has been leaving his mark on surfaces since 1988. He blends intricate patterns, bold lines, and vibrant colours to create futuristic and mysterious compositions. His work often showcases striking portraits of strong, spiritual women, seamlessly fusing photorealism, illustration, and graffiti. Characterised by layered, flowing letterforms and rhythmic linework, his unique approach has been described as “surrealist graffiti art for the soul.”
‘Momentum’ by Mr Cenz is an abstract piece inspired by the shape and feel of the egg. The flowing lines, interconnected shapes, and dynamic forms seamlessly wrap around the object, resulting in an energetic composition, which is instantly recognisable as his signature futuristic space funk style.
Penfold – ‘Bounce and Balance’
Tim Greshman, known as Mr Penfold, is a multi-talented artist in painting, graphic design, screen printing, installations, and murals. His distinct style combines influences from skate graphics and classical abstraction, attracting collaborations with major companies.
Bounce and Balance is a bold and dynamic display of abstract form, featuring a striking composition of overlapping shapes in vivid hues. The carefully balanced color palette creates a sense of movement and energy, transforming the sculpture into a playful yet structured visual experience. True to Penfold’s signature style, this egg is a celebration of colour, composition, and the interplay between shape and space.
The egg sculptures will be in place until 27th April at Kingly Court, Soho. Visit thisissoho.co.uk for more information.
