In 2014 a specially-commissioned mural by Sir Peter Blake entitled Appearing at the Royal Albert Hall was unveiled at the iconic London venue.

The 10ft artwork stands proudly next in the Café Bar at Door 12, or you can also explore the print in its entirety and learn about all of the famous faces who appear in it by visiting an interactive version of the piece, created by 3B Digital, at appearing.royalalberthall.com.

The piece is a montage of over 400 stars who have taken to the world’s most famous stage from its opening in 1871 to the present day, featuring everyone from music legends Bob Dylan, David Bowie and Jimi Hendrix, to pivotal figures in world history such as Albert Einstein, Sir Winston Churchill and Muhammad Ali.

‘I always looked forward to performing here, because although it is a very large space I felt very comfortable, and that I was in touch with the audience. I feel very proud to be included in the mural in this world-renowned building.’
Dame Vera Lynn

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Sir Peter Blake, ‘the Godfather of British Pop Art’, is perhaps best known for co-designing the iconic cover on classic Beatles album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. He was commissioned to create a piece celebrating the Hall’s unrivalled history following an exhibition held at the venue in 2012 celebrating his 80th birthday.

‘I was honoured when the Royal Albert Hall commissioned me to create this mural. The project instantly captured my imagination – the ultimate opportunity to promote the arts in one of Britain’s greatest venues, combined with the challenging process of immortalising over 400 of the world’s most popular artists.’
Sir Peter Blake

Sir Peter Blake unveils his newest piece)

Appearing at the Royal Albert Hall provides a fascinating ‘who’s who’ of the past 143 years of culture, with familiar faces popping up everywhere you look. Modern stars such as Adele, One Direction and Jay-Z stand proudly alongside some of the more surprising acts to have taken to the Hall’s prestigious stage, including a Dalek, astronaut Buzz Aldrin and wrestling legend Big Daddy.

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Before unveiling his latest work at a launch event attended by rock legends Roger Daltrey, Bill Wyman and Brian May, all of whom feature in the work, Sir Peter Blake shared some of his own memories of the building. He recalled regularly attending wrestling events throughout the 1940s and 50s, seeing The Who get pelted with pennies in 1969 by fans waiting to see the evening’s headline act, Chuck Berry, and regular visits to Teenage Cancer Trust concerts  in more recent years, adding: ‘I love the Albert Hall’.

See Appearing at the Royal Albert Hall

The 10ft artwork will remain at the Royal Albert Hall to be freely viewed by any visitors to the venue.

‘It has been a privilege and a delight to work with Sir Peter Blake in creating this spectacular work of art: a unique celebration of the world’s most famous stage by one of the world’s great artists. This magnificent mural brings to life the vibrancy and dynamism of the venue, which has welcomed so many iconic performers, from musicians, comedians and actors to leading statesmen, sportsmen and authors.’
Jasper Hope, Chief Operating Officer at the Royal Albert Hall

Appearing stands proudly next to the Hall’s Café Bar in the Zvi and Ofra Meitar Porch and Foyer at Door 12 of the Hall.

You can also explore the print in its entirety and learn about all of the famous faces who appear on the work by visiting an interactive version of the piece at appearing.royalalberthall.com.

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Bill Wyman:

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Brian May:

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Sir Peter Blake:

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Roger Daltrey:

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All images: Andy Paradise, 2014