Oasis Mural made in the City of Manchester by a Popular Artist

In the heart of Manchester, a striking new mural has captured the attention of locals and global art lovers alike. A bold and colorful tribute to the iconic British band Oasis has been unveiled on the side of a city building, drawing crowds and conversation. But what has truly stunned many is the name behind the brush—none other than legendary artist David Hockney. This unexpected fusion of pop music and fine art has electrified the city’s creative scene and sparked a renewed appreciation for both the band and the artist.

The mural is a towering visual celebration of Oasis’s legacy, blending vibrant hues with surrealist elements and unmistakable northern grit. Featuring stylized portraits of Liam and Noel Gallagher surrounded by abstract musical motifs, the piece is as much a love letter to 1990s Manchester as it is to the rebellious spirit of Britpop. Its location—on the wall of a former music venue where the band once performed—only deepens its cultural resonance.

Locals have been flocking to the site daily, snapping photos and standing in awe of the scale and energy of the artwork. Many describe it as a moment of civic pride, not just for fans of Oasis, but for anyone who identifies with Manchester’s defiant, working-class ethos. The mural, now considered a cultural landmark, embodies a shared memory and identity that stretches beyond generations.

Hockney’s interpretation of Oasis is far from traditional portraiture. Using his signature flair for perspective and digital-like textures, he reimagines the band through a psychedelic lens, with swirling skies, pulsing color gradients, and subtle nods to their lyrics. The result is not just a mural—it’s an emotional experience, one that captures the ambition, angst, and artistry that defined Oasis and the time they ruled the charts.

The unveiling was met with immediate acclaim, not just in Manchester but across the UK. Art critics have praised the unexpected collaboration as a stroke of genius—bringing high art into public spaces while honoring the cultural forces that helped define a generation. Music historians and fans alike have marveled at the mural’s symbolism, with some calling it the most important public artwork in Manchester since the days of L.S. Lowry.

Though Hockney is more often associated with sun-drenched Californian landscapes, his return to the UK for this project feels like a spiritual homecoming. His ability to capture movement, emotion, and era has found a new canvas in Manchester’s gritty cityscape. It’s a testament to the evolving dialogue between music and visual art—a reminder that great art doesn’t always hang in galleries.

The mural has also spurred wider discussions on public art and its role in community healing and identity. In a time when Manchester continues to evolve while preserving its roots, the image of Oasis—immortalized by a master of modern art—feels both timeless and urgently current. It bridges the past with the present, inspiring young artists, musicians, and dreamers to keep pushing creative boundaries.

Even those unfamiliar with Oasis’s music have found something magnetic in the mural’s presence. Children point at the bright patterns; elderly passersby smile with recognition. There’s a universal appeal in its composition, and perhaps that’s Hockney’s greatest triumph—making something deeply local feel universally powerful.

The city council has announced that the mural will be preserved and protected as part of Manchester’s public art heritage. Discussions are already underway to incorporate it into walking tours, educational programs, and even album cover tributes. It has become more than just an image—it’s a movement, a symbol of what happens when artistry and attitude collide in the right place at the right time.

On June 28, 2025, David Hockney officially signed the mural at a small, unpublicized event attended by city leaders and close friends. That single signature elevated the artwork from street piece to historic landmark. The date now stands as a milestone in the city’s cultural calendar, sure to be remembered for years to come.

For Manchester, the mural represents something larger than nostalgia—it is a celebration of resilience, reinvention, and rebellion. It reminds us that even as the city continues to change, the stories and spirits that shaped it remain. In capturing Oasis, Hockney didn’t just paint a band; he painted a feeling, a sound, and a generation.

As the sun sets each evening and the mural catches the golden light, it feels as though Manchester itself is smiling—still dreaming, still shouting, still singing in the face of everything. And now, thanks to the unlikely brushstrokes of David Hockney, that dream has been made eternal in paint.