Commissioned and funded by Bristol City Council and Bristol City Centre Business Improvement District (BID), and curated by Bristol Legacy Foundation with production support from Upfest Projects, the artwork is a central feature of the city’s efforts to reimagine Centre Promenade as an inclusive public space, where art, heritage and community intersect.
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Bristol City Centre’s landmark public artwork now underway
“Our Common Ground” brings African heritage, unity and creativity to life at Centre Promenade
09/09/2025
Artwork production begins today (Tuesday 9 September) on Our Common Ground, a bold new public piece for Bristol by multidisciplinary artist Oshii (Oisín Davis-Lyons). Commissioned as part of the revitalisation of Centre Promenade, the large-scale ground piece will transform one of the city’s busiest pedestrian spaces into a place of reflection, creativity and connection.
Covering 704.4 square metres, the artwork is painted directly onto the tarmac at Centre Promenade – positioned on land that was once part of the Floating Harbour. Our Common Ground draws on African heritage, world history and present-day community voices. Its bold colours and layered imagery invite people to reflect on journeys, memory and identity, while imagining a shared future built on care and respect.
Created for the heart of Bristol, the artwork is anchored by a heart inscribed with the word “Bristol”, symbolising that it belongs to everyone in the city. Around the heart, masks, hands, eyes and rhythmic patterns weave stories of strength and connection – acknowledging the city’s historical legacy while celebrating the creativity and resilience of African heritage communities today.
Oshii, said:
“Our Common Ground is about honesty and imagination - facing the past and dreaming of a shared future. I wanted to create something that belongs to Bristol and reflects its heart: a place where voices, cultures and histories meet on common ground.”The artwork has been shaped in part by community and stakeholder engagement, through a series of sessions that invited local residents, businesses and organisations to preview early concepts and contribute to the artwork’s development. These sessions helped ensure that the final design reflects the diverse voices, values, and aspirations of Bristol’s communities.
Anna Farthing, Interim Head of Place for Bristol BID, said:
“Our Common Ground will be a powerful focal point for the Centre Promenade, transforming the area into a more welcoming destination and place to meet and spend time with others. For the businesses based in the centre, that means greater footfall, a stronger sense of place and a more vibrant atmosphere that encourages people to stay, shop and connect. Public art of this scale not only enhances our cultural identity, but also brings lasting benefits to everyone who shares this space.”Councillor Andrew Brown, Chair of the Economy and Skills Committee at Bristol City Council, said:
"This artwork brings colour, reflection and meaning to the heart of Bristol. Where once ships involved in the trade of sugar, spices, and enslaved people would have docked, we now celebrate the contribution of the city's diverse communities. The completed promenade will be a space where we can pause and reflect on the past, enjoy the present, and look forward together.”Asher Craig, Chair at Bristol Legacy Foundation, added:
“We want this artwork to be both a landmark and a meeting place. Our Common Ground honours Bristol’s history, celebrates the present and invites all who pass through to take part in imagining a more inclusive future.”Installation of the artwork will continue throughout the month. Interpretation panels will offer visual and audio descriptions of the artwork, along with cultural and historical context, encouraging deeper engagement and exploration by visitors of all ages.
