Wander through Carnaby Street today, and you might wonder what a world-famous piece of art is doing just… hanging on the side of a building. That’s because a famous Renoir artwork has appeared in the area. But fret not, it’s not actually the painting itself. Instead, it’s a stunning Renoir mural that reimagines the artist’s The Umbrellas as a piece of public art.
Perched at the corner of Carnaby Street and Ganton Street, visitors can now see Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s iconic The Umbrellas reimagined as a 5 x 3 metre mural. It comes ahead of the National Gallery’s new Renoir And Love exhibition, which opens next month.
The mural was revealed today (September 17) and will be in place until March, 2027. It’s the result of a collaboration between Carnaby Street, the National Gallery, and Global Street Art. Together, they’ve brought “one of the world’s most celebrated Impressionist works beyond the walls of the gallery into the everyday life of one of London’s most distinctive streets.”
Sir Hugh Lane Bequest, 1917, The National Gallery, London. In partnership with Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin.
Renoir and Love
As you might have already guessed, the new Renoir mural is a preview of what to expect at the upcoming National Gallery exhibition. Celebrating “the artist’s gift for capturing love, friendship and everyday emotion,” the exhibition will be the biggest collection of Renoir’s work in the UK since the last National Gallery run in 2007.
The exhibition will feature over 50 Pierre-Auguste Renoir pieces, such as the Bal au Moulin de la Galette (1876). In fact, this will be the first time that particular work has ever gone on display in the UK. And, of course, you’ll also get a proper up-close look at The Umbrellas as part of the showcase.
Said Paul Gray, Deputy Director & Chief Operating Officer, The National Gallery , “As part of our Murals reMastered programme, the National Gallery is delighted to bring Renoir’s The Umbrellas out into the streets of London, offering people a new way to encounter one of the most recognisable works in our collection. Public art has the power to make culture feel immediate and accessible, and seeing this much-loved painting recreated on such a scale creates an exciting opportunity for audiences to engage with Renoir beyond the Gallery’s walls. Carnaby Street feels a particularly fitting setting, creating an unexpected dialogue between Impressionism and contemporary creative culture in the heart of the West End.”
Sir Hugh Lane Bequest, 1917, The National Gallery, London. In partnership with Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin.
🖼️ Renoir and Love opens at the National Gallery on October 3, 2026.
