FROM GRAFFITI TO ARTIST IN RESIDENCE – THE ISLAND QUARTER WELCOMES SOZ MATE

Added by Love Business East Midlands | 19 October 2022

UPDATED: 19 October 2022

A Nottingham graffiti and street artist has been named as The Island Quarter’s artist in residence – one of the first ever to be appointed in the UK.

Reiss Mallet has been appointed as the major regeneration project’s resident artist in a bold move by the developer Conygar, which has tasked him with bringing the new city within a city to life through creative projects.

Reiss is one of the first artists in residence to be appointed by a developer, with the role more typically being associated with galleries and prestige venues such as Claridge’s and The Savoy.

In his role Reiss will be curating an open-air art gallery, pieces from which will be available to purchase online.

Better known by the alias Soz Mate, Reiss has more than a decade of experience completing professional street art and will now involve the wider community in creating a vibrant site as he manages all installations, commissions and an outdoor gallery.

Having first become aware of The Island Quarter when he ‘tagged’ his signature along the site’s hoardings in 2020, Reiss has gone on to make a far bigger mark than he initially expected. As artist in residence, Reiss will utilise his industry connections from a lifetime invested in the art world and oversee all art projects on the site, acting as an expert consultant for the likes of murals and hoarding designs.

Reiss Mallett said:

“To be honest, I was probably a bit of a nuisance for the team when I was tagging the site, so to be here in this situation is a bit surreal.

“Taking on this role is a significant milestone not just for my career and the development of The Island Quarter but for street art as a whole, as it gives a platform to a medium that hasn’t always got the recognition it deserves.

“I want to use this unique position to give others in the street art community the chance to contribute something to Nottingham’s largest development, and a city they love. Nottingham has a vibrant street art scene and for this to be welcomed at The Island Quarter will truly transform the potential for artists in Nottingham and beyond.”

From opening a graffiti shop in Sheffield to creating a magazine, 50 Shades of Spray, which was received across the world by the likes of the Rockerfella Building and Apple offices, Reiss has worked on a range of projects, with The Island Quarter marking his biggest yet. While his personal style includes a lot of shape and form themed around togetherness, visitors to the site can expect a variety of styles from local artists as Reiss will work with the community to give others a platform.

Reiss added:

“Looking ahead, I’m working with Conygar to create a space everyone can enjoy. We’ve got lots of exciting ideas including workshops, a managed gallery and even chances to transform the work into purchasable designs.”

Richard Watson, head of the project delivery team at The Island Quarter, said:

“The Island Quarter wants to embrace and welcome Nottingham’s talented street art community; something we’re very proud of.

“We were first introduced to Reiss through The Nottingham Project when he joined the panel for our recent mural competition. We were so impressed with his passion, ideas and connections that we knew he would make a fantastic addition to the team. By bringing high-quality street art to the site, Reiss’ input will involve the city’s already thriving art community and help maintain the artwork for decades to come.

“We have recently launched Binks Yard, our stunning restaurant in the first phase of the development, but with 36 acres in total, Reiss will help us to ensure the rest of the site is a visual attraction for visitors while we continue to strive ahead with future phases.”

Once complete, The Island Quarter will boast office space, residential units, purpose-built student accommodation, retail and dining outlets and ample green space, among other amenities for the benefit of residents of Nottingham and visitors from further afield.

To find out more about The Island Quarter, and to register interest in job roles available, please visit: theislandquarter.com or email careers@theislandquarter.com.

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