Ellen Gallagher Selected as Cover Artist for London Underground Tube Map, Gagosian Announces
The Facts
On July 30, 2026, Gagosian announced that Ellen Gallagher has been selected as the cover artist for the forty-second edition of the London Underground pocket Tube map. Her painting "Fast-Fish and Loose-Fish" (2025) expands on the artist’s interest in colonial geographies and marine mythology and draws on inspiration from London’s waterways, particularly the long-buried River Fleet and its many ancient wells. The project is presented by Art on the Underground, which invites artists to collaborate on projects that enrich the journeys of millions across London every day.
The Signal
The selection places Gallagher among a lineage of artists who have contributed to the iconic Tube map covers, a highly visible platform for contemporary art in London. The work’s engagement with London’s hidden waterways and colonial history offers a layered commentary on the city’s geography, resonating with Art on the Underground’s mission to integrate art into everyday public transit experiences. For collectors, the association with a mass-distributed public artwork amplifies Gallagher’s cultural reach beyond the gallery context.
- Artists: Ellen Gallagher
- Galleries: Gagosian
- Locations: London
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