Yardworks Festival 2023

Typically a concrete playground, the Galvanizers Yard was transformed into a vibrant canvas of colour and creativity, where some of the biggest urban artists from across the world, including Rachel E. Miller, Jay Kaes, .EPOD, Insane51, Aches, Voyder, Shona Hardie, and KMG, gathered to hang out and create some incredible artwork. 

This year marked the official opening of Yardworks Studio, and a hand-selected range of guests and artists joined together to celebrate the opening on Friday, before Erin Bradley-Scott hosted two packed out sign-writing masterclasses in it across Saturday and Sunday.

There's always something for everyone at Yardworks, and this year was no exception. The weather wasn't the best, but that wasn't an issue. As the rain bucketed down in spurts, punters took refuge indoors and quickly realised it was just as fun there as it was outside. Inside the Galvanizers, kids were learning to skateboard on the Clan Skates half-pipe, Vanessa Lawrence was teaching everyone how to get creative and craft sculptures with wire, and Mia McGregor’s Cubes installation was a massive hit as always. Meanwhile, over in the Warehouse, kids were showing off their moves at Mini Manoeuvres, and to make sure no one felt left out, the adults also got a chance to showcase their moves on Sunday, at the female Funk Fruition dance masterclass.

With a record number of punters, from various backgrounds, attending this year, a more diverse range of artists with more female artists than ever before, and some interesting (to put it lightly) weather conditions, it really felt like a uniquely special one this year, and one that will definitely live long in the memory of all those who attended. 

2023 artist list 

Aches, AKME, Aroe, Alko, ANT1, Aser, Barry The Cat, Bside, Boiing, B More Sketchy, Ciaran Globel + Conzo Throb (Conzo Globel), Created By Imrie, Danny Rumbl, Ders, Drik The Villain, Easi Peasi, Ejek, Ellietype, Elph, Emsky, .Epod, Etnik, Eray, Fool Swing, Frank Carty, Friz, Frodrick, Gabs, Gordy Livingston, Grin, Hana Lindsay, Hans, HMC, Hungry Window, Insane 51, Jay Kaes, James Klinge, Jim Vision, Jo Curtis, Kai, Kink, KMG, Kryme, Latoy, Lightbody107, Lindsay Grime, Luca, Luck, Lyndsey Arts, Mack Colours, MAKONE, Marcamix031, Marcus, Mark Worst, Meds, Michael Corr, Micky, Micro, Miss U, Molly Hankinson, Morf, Mosk, Nic A Doodle Do, Panda, Philaico, Pizzaboy, Pledg, Posea, Purse1, Rachel E. Miller, Rask, Rogue One, Rolek, Ross Macrae, Sair, Sane, Saturno, Seck, Shona Hardie, Snub23, Spaceboy, Sprite, Taio, Tap End Tef, The Cube, Theme, TNGC, Tragic O'Hara, Trench, Usto, VENTONE, Vera, Void One, Voyder, Vues, Wee Thistle., Wosker, Zelda, Zippy, 5Pence

About Yardworks Festival

Since launching in 2017, it’s safe to say the word is now very much out, with the annual Yardworks festival now attracting the global elite of the street arts and graffiti scene. Highlights so far have included the graffiti maze (200 metres of super smooth concrete and steel, painted live in front of the audience), Mia McGregor’s global-participation art project Cubes, a talk from author, photographer and subway artist Martha Cooper, the commissioning of the huge, Classical-art-inspired mural by PichiAvo that you see today in our Galvanizers, and the launch of Yardworks Studio.

For local artists, it’s a chance to learn from the best, meet their heroes, and get inspired by what people are doing elsewhere. For the audience, it’s a weekend of witnessing murals being created live, from scratch, in front of you, child-friendly art workshops and activities, or just drinking it all in with a pint and street food in hand. For Glasgow, it’s a visual celebration of the city’s artistic ambition, its style, and the importance it places on nurturing — and sharing — the joy of creativity.

Outside of the festival, it puts the city on the map as a stomping ground for international artists, who drop in to SWG3 year-round to mark a piece of our territory in their own inimitable style. For local artists, it represents something absolutely essential to the community: a place to express themselves in a safe and legal space.