Glasgow High Street mural, by Smug

Sam Bates, aka Smug, is an Australian street artist in Glasgow. Here’s one of his latest pieces on the High Street.

Glasgow High Street muralGlasgow High Street, photo by Corrie Martin

It took about a week to paint, though still needs a few finishing touches to the hand. As far as I’m aware it depicts Mungo in modern-day clothes. Mungo is Glasgow’s patron saint, born in the 6th century. The story goes that when he was young, some boys from his village started throwing stones at robins that were pecking on the ground for scraps.

“One bird was hit and fell to the ground. The boys ran away. Mungo ran, too, but he ran to the fallen bird. Picking it up he smoothed and caressed its feathers and prayed over it. After a little while it revived and flew away. Perhaps it was only stunned. The villagers called it a miracle and so it was that a small boy should want to help a fallen bird in trouble.”

Quoted from The Beloved St. Mungo (1989).

I’d much rather see that on gable ends around these parts. Via Lee Vickers.


Update: Photo of the finished piece over on Colossal.


Comments

10 responses to “Glasgow High Street mural, by Smug”

  1. Soji BENN Avatar
    Soji BENN

    This art on the street is awesome, also known as community art work. The beautiful thing about this kind of art is that it gives the artist an opportunity to create an identity for the local cummunity. The art will influence the ways and character of the people living in that local community. The mental states of the kids will be influenced as well. Color, Styles…

    Community art work is a community development project. A social change innovation.

  2. How great is this? It makes life better, makes you smile. As Soji says it will influence the people who live there.

  3. Elizabeth Pope Avatar
    Elizabeth Pope

    We went to see this when on holiday. It’s fabulous.

  4. Karine Davison Avatar
    Karine Davison

    Love seeing these in many places around Glasgow.

  5. Brian Neeson Avatar
    Brian Neeson

    Can’t wait for more from Smug. He adds so much to Glasgow.

  6. Saw the mural in Glasgow about 2 weeks ago. What a beautiful creation.

  7. Does anyone know what street it is on?

    1. It’s ok, I’ve found it. ????

  8. Alex Gillespie Avatar
    Alex Gillespie

    Saint Mungo? Looks more like Robin Williams from the Fisher King. Maybe smug used his likeness for this piece of astounding art.

  9. William Fraser Avatar
    William Fraser

    I have prints this artist did as a one-off for the Lisbon Lions centenary year. Jimmy Johnston, Tommy Burns, Jock Stein, Billy McNeill, Tommy Fennel, also Mohammed Ali signed, and there’s a story from the artist on the back to say what he has done, etc. Would these be valuable out of curiosity?

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