A graffiti artist is giving England’s oldest Cathedral a makeover that will help boost the community.

Graffiti artist Ant Steel has always enjoyed using his art to bring joy to the community. And now, as an artist in residence at England’s St. Albans Cathedral, he’s able to interact with the public in a whole new way. Over the course of the year, Steel has been leading workshops and creating his own artwork for an exhibition inside the cathedral that will be held in November.

As Britain’s oldest site of continuous Christian worship, St. Albans may seem like an unconventional place for an artist like Steel. But, as Steel points out, it’s actually a perfect pairing. Graffiti dates back to ancient times—one only needs to visit Pompeii to find examples—so, in this sense, they aren’t that far off from one another. In either case, Steel, who has a background in graphic design, knows just how powerful public art can be. And he’s happy to share those lessons with others.

While taking immense inspiration from the classical environment of St. Albans, Steel is also spurred on by the workshops and events he holds as an artist in residence. Over the course of his time at St. Albans, he has guided local children and adults through the steps to produce their own pieces of graffiti art. It’s something that has given him a new sense of purpose.

“There are many things I could be doing in my career, but honestly, nothing I’d rather be doing than this right now,” he tells My Modern Met. “The Cathedral staff have been so welcoming and excited for me to join them this year. I already feel deeply connected. Seeing students connect to the art in workshops is amazing.” […]

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