Faces of a City is a community art project celebrating the ordinary people who make Gloucester extraordinary. Through a series of painted portraits, the project captures the faces, stories and character of people from across the city recognising the individuals who shape Gloucester through their everyday lives, relationships and contributions.
The project is important because a city is more than its buildings and landmarks; it is the people who give it its identity. By placing local people at the heart of the artwork, Faces of a City creates a sense of recognition, pride and belonging. It celebrates Gloucester’s diversity, strengthens connections across the community and ensures that everyday lives often overlooked or undocumented are seen, valued and remembered.
A growing wall of faces is currently being completed at The Shirt Factory in Gloucester, bringing together portraits of the local people who make the city what it is. More venues will soon offer opportunities to see the paintings being created. Interviews with the people featured, along with an insight into the painting process, can be found on Instagram at @haines.art.
