cold war steve
Society has commissioned a major new artwork from Cold War Steve, one of Birmingham’s most celebrated contemporary artists. Known for his satirical, surrealist photo montages that reflect modern British life, Cold War Steve (real name Christopher Spencer) has created a bespoke mural that will be permanently displayed at the heart of the venue.
The mural is set against a black-and-white photograph of 1960s Birmingham and bursts with colour and energy, symbolising the multicultural spirit and creative force that define the city today. It features iconic figures from Birmingham’s globally recognised music scene - including Mist, Fleur Shore, Dapz on the Map, Lotto Boyzz, Mike Skinner, Preditah, Lady Leshurr and Jaykae - representing genres from bhangra and grime to techno, rap and drum & bass. In his signature style, Cold War Steve has also woven in his trademark wit and social commentary, giving the piece both a local heartbeat and a sharp cultural edge.
Chris Spencer, AKA Cold War Steve added: “I’ve really enjoyed working on something special for Society. It’s great to collaborate with new businesses joining the city and I love the idea of the mural being part of such a social space. As a new and very inclusive venue I wanted the artwork to shine a light on Birmingham’s younger, more diverse cultural greats and the resulting piece explodes with the colour of multicultural splendour.”
