SINCE SUMMER 2015, Dublin’s traffic light control boxes have undergone a bright and colourful transformation.

What were once grey rectangles that blended into the city’s background have been turned into works of art that brighten Dublin’s streets one stroke of colour at a time.

Behind the work is Dublin Canvas, a community art project “intended to bring flashes of colour and creativity to everyday object in the greater County Dublin area.”

The Dublin Canvas website describes the initiative aptly: “Less grey, more play”, with each transformed box “making Dublin a more beautiful place to live, work and visit.” 

Last January, we shared a selection of the boxes from around the capital. Twelve months on, the project has continued to grow, with some 350 boxes dotted around Dublin’s four main councils.

Project Coordinator at Dublin Canvas David Murtagh told TheJournal.ie that there will be a new callout made in the coming months for the summer ’19 boxes, with the hopes of an additional 75 boxes being created and 25 boxes from 2015 being repainted.  

1. ‘Philo’: One of Ireland’s greatest lives on in this striking tribute

Dublin Canvas / jayfik Dublin Canvas / jayfik / jayfik

2. ‘Mi Friducha’: Frida Kahlo comes to Dublin in the form of this painting

3. ‘Dubliners’: A minimalist take on one of James Joyce’s classics

4. ‘Community Spirit’: Anyone fancy throwing a ball around? 

5. ‘Howya Horse’: You can’t help but smile when you look at this

8.  ‘Bowie’: An icon and a subtle reminder

Dublin Canvas / Cathal Craughwell Dublin Canvas / Cathal Craughwell / Cathal Craughwell

9. ‘The Birds’: A stunning archway you’d wish to step inside

Dublin Canvas / Juliette O'Brien Dublin Canvas / Juliette O'Brien / Juliette O'Brien

10.  ‘Luke Kelly’: A reminder of The Rare Oul Times

Dublin Canvas / John Fitzsimons Dublin Canvas / John Fitzsimons / John Fitzsimons

11.  ‘Greetings from Dublin’: The Poolbeg chimneys get a makeover

Dublin Canvas / Niall Maher Dublin Canvas / Niall Maher / Niall Maher

12. ‘Crazy World’: Try to read this without singing in your head

Dublin Canvas / Emma Blake Dublin Canvas / Emma Blake / Emma Blake

13. ‘Scarlet for your Ma’: The most hurtful insult of all

Dublin Canvas / Holly Pereira Dublin Canvas / Holly Pereira / Holly Pereira

14. ‘Griffith Avenue by Grace Parks’: A book we’d definitely read

Dublin Canvas / Sorcha Maguire Dublin Canvas / Sorcha Maguire / Sorcha Maguire

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