In celebration of what would’ve been the Queen frontman’s 80th birthday, on Saturday (9.05,) Wembley Park unveiled a 30-foot anamorphic mural of Freddie Mercury across its Spanish Steps.
Designed by British street artist Frank Style, the monochromatic portrait of iconic musician is set against graphic elements inspired by his life and passions, and titled ‘I’m Mr. Mercury’, the hand-sprayed vinyl artwork was applied to all 58 Spanish Steps that connect Wembley Stadium and OVO Arena Wembley- the installation.
Designed as an anamorphic image, the complete portrait aligns when viewed from a marked yellow circle opposite the steps. Moving away from the specific viewpoint causes the artwork to resolve into abstract shapes and lines. The surrounding design includes koi carp, reflecting Mercury’s love of Japanese culture and his London home’s garden, alongside winged female figures referencing his Virgo star sign and the Queen crest he designed. Quotes and selected lyrics also trace up the steps toward Wembley Stadium.
Including ten shows at Wembley Arena between 1978 and 1984, two headline stadium concerts in 1986, and the band’s appearance at Live Aid on 13 July 1985, Mercury performed at Wembley on numerous occasions with Queen.
About the artistic installation, Queen’s manager Jim Beach said “Freddie was known to millions around the world as the frontman of Queen but off stage, he was a quiet and humble man, happy at home surrounded by the things he loved most. ‘I’m Mr. Mercury’ perfectly captures the beautiful complexity of Freddie.”
Artist Frank Styles added “As a trained graphic designer himself, Freddie was very aware and precise about the visual feel and so I have endeavoured to follow his ethos in the conscious creation of this mural.”
The Freddie Mercury installation joins the Wembley Park Art Trail alongside previous artistic tributes to Taylor Swift, Coldplay, and Lana Del Rey.
‘I’m Mr. Mercury’ is free to view and will remain on display through to December 2026.
Keep up with the latest trending music news by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
Author: Saul Goode
Photo: Unknown Author – Public Domain