News feed & Links
Pollinator mural 1, Steinsel, “The Wasp” (July 2024)
This mural is now complete on a school/maison relais in Steinsel, Luxembourg. It features the wasp in an aim to promote the message that our friend, the bee, has many colleagues who help to pollinate our flowers. At 20 meters in height, this is the largest project to date and it is the first of what we hope to continue as a mural series in Luxembourg, showcasing different pollination insects & animals in each. We included a workshop for local kids, with some educational quiz / craft activities about wasps.
Home Coming exhibition, Op der Breck, Kopstal
In the town I grew up in, it was so small that all they had was a tiny local pub next to the bus stop. Since I left it has been converted into my favourite Thai restaurant in Luxembourg, owned by a warm and gracious host who I am now happy to call a good friend of mine. The exhibition was a small collection of my latest canvas works which hung for 4 months, adding some colour to match the vibrant thai cuisine. The restaurant will continue to show different pieces over the coming period so make sure you pass by to check it out over dinner some time. You can find them on facebook here : www.facebook.com/opderbreck/?locale=de_DE
Please dont hesitate to get in touch to ask about this collection
Please dont hesitate to get in touch to ask about this collection
CDJ Lorentzweiler (March 2024)
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At Centre de Jour, in Lorentzweiler we were asked to help create a more vibrant and bright space for the theatre room.
We made a workshop for the service users of the centre where we presented two digital designs as options and held a vote one week later. We also made some colour-free pages for them to colour in. During this workshop we had the chance to explain our designs to the clients and also held a small quiz about our Luxembourgish landmarks. The winning design was then painted in the lovely alcoves and the clients were invited to help the artist throughout the process or simply join us for a chat and watch the progress unfolding. As a final flourish we added some gold-leaf to the central painting of Luxembourg’s famous, Golden lady (Gëlle Fra). |
ART SPACE, ART CLASSES (March 2024)
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This month I had the pleasure of teaching some art classes at the wonderful ArtSpaceLuxembourg studio on rue de Neudorf. I offered mostly abstract sessions, focussing on creative play the therapeutic benefits of art activities. My classes included, -Pop-Art your pet; creating a ‘paint by numbers’-style outline and choosing bright, contrasting colours to bring it to life. -Abstract Inks; Practicing different techniques and colour combinations on YUPO paper before applying our favourites onto a white tile to take home. -Audiovision; Listening to different genres of music and using a range of mixed media to create a visual representation of what we hear. Book onto the classes here: artspaceshop.com/ |
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VIRGINIA, USA (Nov/Dec 2023)
Back in America for the latest SES mural! As always an incredible and challenging opportunity to paint abroad, learning about new painting products and materials for these two extremely long murals in the new Piney Branch office a couple of hours from the DC office.
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ART WEEK at AAPL (Nov 2023)
Two new Paintings created to celebrate the Luxembourg Art Week at the AAPL Verlorenkost Studios ( aapl.lu/ ).
A great group of artists who have set up some ateliers / studios in a disused building in town openned their doors to the public for people to come and view the artists’ studios and giving the opportunity to members of the AAPL to exhibit some work too.
A great group of artists who have set up some ateliers / studios in a disused building in town openned their doors to the public for people to come and view the artists’ studios and giving the opportunity to members of the AAPL to exhibit some work too.
Truck ‘A’ palooza (October 2023)
We were recently contacted by the Fondation EME ( www.fondation-eme.lu/en ) to hold a mural workshop for kids to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the APEMH ( www.apemh.lu/ ). There was live music and good vibes all day.
We started with a blues & purples background and then masked off the large 25 for our reds and yellows. We used acrylic paints with brushes & sponges, and also used spray cans with adapted handles.
We started with a blues & purples background and then masked off the large 25 for our reds and yellows. We used acrylic paints with brushes & sponges, and also used spray cans with adapted handles.
MADE.BY.MCKELL (enD 2023)
Launching this new branch of ‘ by McKell’ where Mum and I find a new purpose for some of my old paintings… We have been making some accessories such as dog leads & collars, small wallets/purses, key rings, and glasses cases. We have repurposed some car liner fabric and some furniture straps for these products and each piece is completely unique and made by hand. Depending on the size of canvas we can get one or more of each item, making them one part of a group of items all made from one painting.
We are very excited to bring these to a market near you very soon! In the mean time click here to be redirected to our Made.By.McKell section.www.muralsbymckell.com/madebymckell.html
We are very excited to bring these to a market near you very soon! In the mean time click here to be redirected to our Made.By.McKell section.www.muralsbymckell.com/madebymckell.html
TEDx talk Luxembourg City (april 2023)
I was invited to do a TEDx talk, the event was sponsored by the Ministry of Education in Luxembourg. The whole thing was an incredible experience and I got the opportunity to meet some other very talented individuals. If you are interested in art within the education system I highly recommend giving it a watch, don’t forget to grab pencil/pen/paper so you can join in the drawing exercise!
Washington DC (SEPT/OCT 2022)
Here are a pair of Murals commissioned by SES for their Washington DC office in the U.S. A very exciting project abroad and wonderful opportunity to meet some of the people working there who have been following the murals here in the European offices. Creating a physical link between to two corporate spaces across an ocean.
AURORA BOREALIS (JULY 2022)
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Travelling up to one of SES’s Offices in Den Haag (The Hague) to paint this mural of a snowy, remote town in the middle of nowhere, set beneath mountains and the northern lights (aurora borealis). Even as far out as this, satellite connectivity is still possible thanks to state of the art technology.
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Just Beachy (July 2022)
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Some lovely sand dunes and a distant sea for a peaceful bedroom beach scene. This mural guides you down and into another world through wild grass and with hot sand under foot. Can you hear the seagulls?
Painted in a bedroom in luxembourg using mostly sprays and with brushed details to transform this little space into a relaxing seaside retreat. |
Wind turbines (June 2022)
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First of a 2-part mural series at the Hague office from SES. Stay tuned for part 2…
DELANO (MAY 2022)
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An interview with Alex McKell featured in Delano magazines to discuss corporate culture and the impact of mural art within corporate space.
Click here to read the article (opens in new window) |
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From canvas to … (2022)
Playing with the abstract techniques from the recent canvas series, applied here to skate decks, motorbike helmet, and foldable table & benches for a bar in Esch.
Juxtaposition Exhibition (January 2022-April 2022)
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Space mural Video (December 2021)
Presenting a short video of our Space mural at SES, filmed by Olivier Koos and edited and produced by David Wachs.
Broadcasting (November 2021)
The latest mural in our SES series at the chateau de Betzdorf HQ, representing live events being broadcast around the world and bringing people together.
Maritime Magic (october 2021)
Another mural in our SES series at the chateau de Betzdorf HQ, here depicting the connectivity which they can provide to ships out at sea thanks to satellites.
Back to school in columbia (September 2021)
At SES in Betzdorf we wanted to show the positive impact of satellite connectivity in schools & education in remote areas. This painting was based on a scene of school children walking to school in Columbia.
Niederanven owl (August 2021)
This mural was a project organised by the commune of Niederanven for the CIPA Grengewald care home. There is some ongoing long-term construction and they wanted to beautify the temporary fencing, so invited some local artists to come and paint some colourful scenes to improve the view. Here is our brightly coloured owl swooping through a mountain forest landscape.
Betzdorf ISJ/SES mural (July 2021)
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The SES story is depicted in this middle section of mural, approximately 40 meters in length. (70+ meters including the workshop sections at either end).
In this design we show a rocket launch, satellites stationned around the globe, with satellite network reaching the most remote places on earth including aviation and maritime. |
Betzdorf Mural workshop (July 2021)
SES Sponsored a mural workshop at the ISJ (Institut St Joseph) in Betzdorf, north of Luxembourg. Residents participated on a voluntary basis to take part in an introductory class room session exploring the effects of stencil painting on a rough surface, compared to a smooth surface. The group then had the opportunity to apply the technique on a wall which encloses their residential building, The two extremities of the wall were allocated for the workshop led by mural artist Alex Mckell, and the centre areas were to be painted in an SES illustrated story line depicting the launch of satellites and their various impacts on earth. Groups were invited to apply their hand prints to the mural throughout the process.
To infinity and beyond.. (April 2021)
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What an incredible opportunity to paint this large interior mural spanning two floors at SES Astra headquarters. Working alongside Kristina Smith-Meyer to create a design representing an introduction to a follow up series (coming soon) which will highlight SES’s mission and to present the positive impact of satellites across the globe. |
Whale Whale Whale (March, 2021)
Stepping into the waves has never been so easy with this sea themed mural in a child’s bedroom in Hobsheid Luxembourg (Design chosen by client). Trialing a new technique of watery painted to give a translucent effect in the ocean waves.
HAPPY Woman’s day (8th march, 2021)
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Portrait of Angela Yvonne Davis (born January 26, 1944) is an American political activist, philosopher, academic and author. She was featured in a live painting session by Alex Mckell in the town centre of Luxembourg for the international woman’s day. It was a great event and a great turn out.
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Family day, Esch (september 2020)
We were invited to set up a mural workshop for the Escher familljendag where families can attend the city of Esch with many other interactive activities. We designed a colourful geometric scene of hot air balloons floating through the sky.
Life without borders, Croix rouge (August 2020)
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We have had another opportunity to work with a refugee camp in Mersch, sponsored by the Red Cross of Luxembourg. As a group we created a colourful world map, to bring our residents a little closer to home. The land masses are represented here without borders with warmer colours for warmer parts of the globe. The idea is to show inclusion and an ideal where people are not separated by their nationalities.
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Proud Like A Peacock (lockdown 2020)
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Corona virus has had a huge impact on our way of life, as more people around the world start to work from home we start to re-assign value to our space as its purpose changes. What was once a plain white door now boasts beautiful plumage and rose gold metallic detail inspired by some artwork seen in Thailand. Even in the comfort of your own home, anything is possible. |
Qosqo Restaurant Chill Lounge (JAN 2020)
Arguably our biggest project to date is the new Latin American restaurant - QoSQo - at the Place d'Armes, Luxembourg city. The work spans across three floors and includes five works of mural art.
Welcome to QoSQo's Chill Lounge. This is a space dedicated to your needs, including specialist alcohols and designed as a flexible room. Maybe you will come and work for a while with a glass of wine, or meet a few friends to try their tapas menu and sample their Rhum and liqueur shelves.
qosqo restaurant stairways (DEC 2019/Jan 2020)
Here are the two smaller, staircase paintings, representing some jungle vines, and a lady in dia de los muertos make up. More treats for the eyes as you ascend or descend from floor to floor, keeping you engaged in the Latin American ambiance as you travel throughout the building.
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qosqo restaurant ground floor (Dec 2019/Jan 2020)
Arguably our biggest project to date is the new Latin American restaurant - QoSQo - at the Place d'Armes, Luxembourg city. The work spans across three floors and includes five works of mural art.
Welcome to the ground floor of QoSQo's! This is the welcome mat of the space and presents prospective diners with floor to ceiling wall art, in a Latin American theme, mirrored in the first floor mural but on a much larger scale. This piece is painted on exposed brick, it was a challenging experience but the results were well worth it. The colours jump off the wall, land on your plate and take you on a journey to Mexico, Cuba or wherever you want to go!
qOSqO RESTAURANT fIRST FLOOR (dEC 2019)
Arguably our biggest project to date is the new Latin American restaurant - QoSQo - at the Place d'Armes, Luxembourg city. The work spans across three floors and includes five works of mural art.
Above are some photos of the first floor, eventually this work has been framed by benches and some metal shelving around the top & sides, to add to the exposed industrial materials utilised in this build, as you will see throughout the eatery. The first floor welcomes you with soft acoustics for more intimate dining, lovely re-purposed wood coating one of the walls and the freeze of bright painting lining the far wall adds a splash of colour to the room.
Lacrosse player & Lighthouse (Nov 2019)
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This lighthouse and lacrosse player were recently completed in the new home of a lovely couple in Luxembourg. With personal significance to them it was a great way to express their passions and help to make their new walls feel like their own.
The tooth fairy (Oct 2019)
This mural was done at a Dental Practice in Limperstberg, Luxembourg last month. It tells a story of cultures merging in the form of 'La petite souris' - from France, and the 'Tooth fairy'. The colourful mice will keep the kids company while they brush their teeth and wait to be seen by the dentist.
Mahatma gandhi - marche de la paix (sept 2019)
A portrait commissioned by Kufa's Urban Art in May 2019 for the 'Peace walk' Event in Esch, Luxembourg. The project was filmed in time-lapse format, please refer to the videos section of this site for a 'live painting' experience!
Phoenix Mural Workshop (feb/march 2019)
An incredible experience with a local refugee foyer in the north of Luxembourg, where we painted this huge Phoenix as part of a mural workshop. the response from the local community and the residents themselves was overwhelmingly positive, and we look forward to more work like this in the future.
Casa Dom Menu (jan 2019)
A happy start to the new year with this Croatian / Italian fusion menu Mural. Including starters, mains and deserts, this piece is a feast waiting to happen. Special thanks to the couple who commissioned this one, having been hungry for the duration of the project!
the Juice bar (Nov 2018)
Closing the year with these quirky fruit and veg illustrations. A small mural at a new juice bar in Luxembourg!
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A whale of A Time (september 2018)
What an absolute delight it was to paint this geometric whale in the centre of Ettelbruck, Luxembourg. It has been a really prevalent theme in recent times regarding the plastic in our oceans and the damage it has been causing. Despite being a small, landlocked country, this mural will be a daily reminder of the sea-life we share our planet with. Long may our efforts continue in our fight against climate change, as we as human beings have a lot to answer for!
"Vanovations" (august 2018)
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The summer was well spent on a project close to my heart. We renovated my van, stripping it to the bone, and building a cosy bedroom on wheels. The journey took us through the delightful countryside of Italy and Croatia for a well-deserved break!
It was a fantastic opportunity to stretch our carpentry muscles, and truly feel the rewards of our hard work. |
APehangers bar (June 2018)
In June we were asked to come to Apehangers bar, in Leamington Spa, for our first piece of external work. It was great fun adding a creative piece to this venue, where among other quirks, entry to the bar is through a fridge door!
Yoga Murals (may 2018)
Our Mandala and Buddha murals, recently completed in this incredible space, The Yoga Room Luxembourg. It was a true pleasure to be invited to work in this yoga studio, the results speak for themselves.
ICT SPRING (May 2018) European convention centre
Another addition to our time lapse video collection. Our work for Luxinnovation on their stand at the ICT Spring 2018. Our section represents the agriculture and steel industry of Luxembourg. This particular brief highlights the flexibility of the work we do, and how adaptable it can be to different project requirements. It was really enjoyable expanding and exploring the skill set needed during this challenge.
Blossom tree & Cloudy sky Bedroom (APr/MAY 2018)
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This was our first mural commissioned to include the ceiling, and for the young lady in her bunk bed it is the perfect view for falling asleep! The aim of this piece was to keep the work visible when high furniture was to be introduced. In this way murals are extremely flexible and a great way to achieve exactly what you want with very specific needs.
PLAYROOM (March 2018)
Here is a huge playroom mural, completed in Luxembourg. The theme is fantasy, featuring Simba, defending her castle and 3 robots, rebuilding their Minecraft themed town.
pink Disney Magic (Feb 2018)
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Completing a classic Disney design for an unborn baby girl in Liverpool. This project has been an exciting introduction to children's murals, it has been commissioned as a surprise for the unsuspecting Mum.
FLOWER power. (jan 2018)
Kicking off the new year with some colourful floral designs in a lovely house Luxembourg. Some walls are not suitable for nails and screws so an elegant solution was found for this chimney breast. We made a time lapse video which is always interesting to watch in terms of technique and progression. We hope you enjoy watching!
For more videos, please check out our videos page.
For more videos, please check out our videos page.
Lucky in Lisbon. (summer 2017)
Over the summer we were invited to do some renovation work in IMPACT HUB Lisbon, a Global community hosting events and start-up companies. It was great working together with local people and in such a massive open space. Lisbon is a vibrant city, full of incredible street art, and the community allocates a lot of outdoor space for street artists to work on which shows huge appreciation for creativity and is a positive addition to local culture, and public spaces.
In conjunction with a local team, we designed and built a four-tier auditorium, several 'floating desks', some partition walls, and an indoor tree-house. It was also a nice opportunity to represent local history and tourism, in the form of the tram mural for the rest room.
In conjunction with a local team, we designed and built a four-tier auditorium, several 'floating desks', some partition walls, and an indoor tree-house. It was also a nice opportunity to represent local history and tourism, in the form of the tram mural for the rest room.
walking with elephants. (jan 2017)
This was our latest project at a new champagne bar, House, in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.
This Mural was a lot of fun, great music, vibes and staff in an amazing new venue. I had the chance to work on this wall within a big project by Urban Canvas, and it was a great experience all round. The geometric elephants were designed as a unique and original solution to disguise a door, which leads to a secret room within the venue, and the colours match the jungle theme and exotic feel of the energetic space.
To check out the work in person, or simply to enjoy this excellent new venue, check out their facebook page on the link.
This Mural was a lot of fun, great music, vibes and staff in an amazing new venue. I had the chance to work on this wall within a big project by Urban Canvas, and it was a great experience all round. The geometric elephants were designed as a unique and original solution to disguise a door, which leads to a secret room within the venue, and the colours match the jungle theme and exotic feel of the energetic space.
To check out the work in person, or simply to enjoy this excellent new venue, check out their facebook page on the link.
