The Portal

Polish street artist NeSpoon brings a Bradford tradition into the 21st century with The Portal, a huge new mural in the heart of Bradford.

The Portal is part of BD: Walls, a collection of new street art commissioned by Bradford 2025 for walls across Bradford District – paying vibrant tribute to our heritage while celebrating our dynamic street art culture.

‘The inspiration for my mural came from a lace pattern I discovered during research in the archives of Bradford District Museum & Galleries. The lace was made in the 1900s using a hand-needle lace technique, one of the most difficult and labour-intensive lace-making techniques. The selected fragment of the pattern, painted on the wall, reminds me of a portal to another world.

‘All my works have been inspired by the art of lace-making, a search for the simplest codes of beauty and harmony. Symmetrical lace patterns have a mesmerising character. They come from the world of nature and they are everywhere around us: in the petals and leaves of flowers, in the skeletons of sea creatures, in snowflakes, and in patterns painted by frost on windows.

‘They are universal and recognisable all over the world, in all cultures. They are often associated with family, home, childhood, security, good old times. I believe that my works based on lace motifs emit good energy. People just like them and smile when they see them.’

NeSpoon is a Polish artist who fuses urban art, painting and traditional ceramics. Over time, lace patterns have become her signature style – as on this striking mural.

For more information, visit NeSpoon’s website.