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November 14, 2026I have several galleries on this website that document imagery I find on the street relating to gender and identity. One is The Frown Project, which documents expression and gender, another on Hairiness and Gender and one which documents phallic imagery and references to male genitals in the public arena. This piece gives some background to the ongoing collection of photographs documenting penis graffiti and imagery I’ve come across both in London and on my travels.
When I researched phallic representation and graffiti I came across historical and cultural signifiers encompassing ancient sacred imagery, fertility symbols, architectural monuments and childish, naughty and rebellious vandalism aimed to shock or make you giggle.
Giant penis on old wall in Palma de Mallorca, 2021
The image above taken of a massive wall at a historical site in Palma de Mallorca manifests a combination of impressive grandeur and humour with the addition of the text JeJe which translates into English as haha.
I find it interesting that in an age of supposed gender-fluidity there is still an abundance of penis graffiti. Are women also participating in the act of drawing male genitalia?
Penis graffiti on Charing Cross Road, 2026
More Willies of the World
On a recent trip to Palermo in Sicily I was surprised at the abundance of penis graffiti that I came across in the city streets.
Penis graffiti, Palermo, Sicily, 2026
Penis graffiti, Palermo, Sicily, 2026
Vegan, Palermo 2026
Here are a few more examples of penis graffiti witnessed on my travels,
Penis among the handprints, Essaouira, Morocco 2024
Penis in the Bronx, 2025
Macron and Juxtaposition Paris, 2026
On Misogyny, Disrespect and Violence towards Women
Is penis graffiti merely celebratory or humorous? This week I came across a sighting which grabbed my attention on an otherwise typical trip to Edgware where I go to visit my mum:
Penis Graffiti outside Superdrug Store, Edgware, November 2026
The above photograph is a detail of a Superdrug storefront in Edgware – a popular health and beauty chain. The young woman has red lipstick and matching nails. She is holding a striped carton of popcorn in one hand and touches the side of her face with the other. Her mouth is open, connoting happiness and gleeful excitement. Someone has painted an orange coloured penis with testicles entering the mouth, resting on the tongue and aiming towards the back of her throat.
It’s been a week where the media has been reporting on celebrities using their fame to get away with sexual misconduct including cases of rape and assault. Despite the history of phallic graffiti encompassing everything from good luck, glorified sexuality and fertility, protection, rebellion and childish humour I’ve noticed recent markings that blur boundaries and have made me feel uncomfortable. Do these graffiti “jokes” use alleged humour to normalise unwanted and non-consensual sexual acts?
Another recent example of this was taken earlier this year on the approach to Gospel Oak Station on Gordon House Road which is local to me:
A colourful street poster promotes the music production opportunities for young people at Chalk Farm’s iconic Roundhouse. In the image a large penis with testicles has been graffitied on to the face of a girl – possibly a teenager – as she concentrates unaware at a mixing desk.
Are these markings also expressions of misogyny, disrespect, humiliation and violence towards women?
Seen in Chalk Farm back in October 2020
Street advert with penis graffiti, October 2020
Interestingly there is an overlap with the above image and another of my Documenting Graffiti projects – in this case the gallery dedicated to hairiness and gender. I find it interesting that this same image within a time period of a few months was vandalised initially with hairy graffiti and after a clean-up was then subjected to a penis. What is the connection between the motivation?
Chin hair and moustache graffiti, May 2020
Documenting Phallic Graffiti in my Neighborhood
Below are some more examples of local phallic imagery seen in the Kentish Town, Dartmouth Park and Parliament Hill areas of Camden:
Phallic Graffiti on utility box, Highgate Road, October 2026
Graffiti on Table Tennis Table, Parliament Hill Fields, June 2025
Autumn still life: Pavement penis graffiti and fallen leaves, Highgate Road, 2025
schoolboy?
Penis on my path, Hampstead Heath, 2017
Bus Stop Information, February 2026
All weather:
Graffiti on a snow-covered car, February 2021
Youths creating a monolithic snow sculpture, December 2022
Talismanic monument? Me standing next to the giant penis ice sculpture on Hampstead Heath, 2022
Links
See the whole gallery here: Documenting Representations of Genitals Part 1
The Frown Project
Hairiness & Gender
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hamsa and the representation of hands in graffiti
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October 13, 2026Back in October 2016 I started a documentary project which involved photographing the view from my kitchen window. The urban and almost industrial view looked towards Kentish Town and beyond. On a clear day the cityscape on the horizon was impressive, dotted with iconic architectural structures such as The London Eye and BT Tower. On other days it would be obscured by haze or fog. The series captures seasons and fleeting transient moments – below an example a of pink-hued, spring view:
Pink view, 6 April 2026
A year into the project, Stephen Emms of the North London cultural guide Kentishtowner featured Changing Views on the cover of the newspaper.
Me and the the local newspaper at the local pub, photographed by my son Raf, November 2017
I’ve photographed the view at different times of day and whenever something has caught my eye – the changing light, a sudden snow flurry, a passing overground train or container on the bridge that boldly displays the graffitied word HOPE.
Jolly View, September 2025
A bit snowy, November 2025
Sunset and Passing Overground Train 30/12/25
Today, ten years into the project, the sound of the wind and rain alerted me. I opened to the window to shoot this soft, smoky landscape, evoking the Renaissance Italian painterly concept of sfumatura, albeit with a passing Tesco container to place the image firmly in the 21st Century!
View through the sudden rain, 13 October 2026
Click HERE to see the Changing Views 10 Year Anniversary Gallery Grid.
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Changing Views Featured in December issue of Kentishtowner
5 Years of Changing Views
A Year of Changing Views
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August 24, 2026Here are a few images I took during the solar eclipse which peaked in London shortly after 7pm on August 12, 2026. The heatwave was in full force and alongside hundreds of others, me and my husband Stephen walked up Parliament Hill in Hampstead Heath. I was merely armed with a camera but lots of people had prepared picnic gear and were encamped on towels and blankets on the parched, drought-affected grass:
There was also a homely feel reminiscent of the DIY creative projects on the long-running BBC TV children’s show Blue Peter, with people repurposing old cereal boxes and using household items like colanders:
DIY Eclipse-viewing on Parliament Hill
We had brought along a green plastic colander and sheet of white paper. Next a few photographs featuring the aforementioned colander!
Abstract view through a colander
Below, profile shot of my husband Stephen and the colander, followed by an an image of his outstretched arm holding the paper with multiple crescent shadows caused by the eclipse:
Despite the shortage described by the media many people seemed to have obtained special eclipse glasses:
The atmosphere was friendly and festival-like, with a sense of community and joint purpose:
The couple below must have kept their glasses for the 27 years since the August 1999 eclipse. Hope their eyes are still ok!
Couple with vintage Eclipse glasses dated August 11, 1999
Above, me and Stephen during the eclipse peak, shot by Stephen on his iPhone. Examining the photo now I can see there’s a luminous crescent reflection on his shoulder blade.
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July 22, 2026Mural in Perugia, 2026
Walking around the the historic centre of the Medieval city of Perugia in July 2026, I looked up to see a faded, textured mural depicting a surreal fusion; a fragmented, elegant black figure in profile and the iconic Bialetti Moka coffee with what appears to be a stove-top flame beneath it. The coffee pot handle is replaced with a human arm.
We were in Perugia specifically for the Umbria Jazz Festival, a city I’d never visited before despite numerous visits to Italy and spending a year here as a university student. The Italian coffee pot resonated with me on a number of levels – I’ll try and explain why.
Firstly I have been noticing imagery related to coffee. Recently in London I’d been shopping for a dress but instead ended up photographing the store sales assistant as she had a coffee pot tattooed on her arm:
Moka Pot Tattoo, 2026
And earlier this year I had been documenting Catholic religious iconography in Palermo, Sicily. One of the sightings that had struck me was the juxtaposition of the Bialetti coffee pot with the Jesus figurine alongside it:
Coffee and Religion: Palermo coffee shop detail shelf
Whilst in Palermo I visited a wall called Il Muro della legalita comprised of street art honouring individuals who had fought against the Mafia. The photograph below depicts on of my favourite authors, Andrea Camilleri who died at the age of 93 in 2019. Selfishly I was sad when he died as I had read all his novels and had to accept there would be no more to look forward to.
Andrea Camilleri portrayed on Il Muro della Legalità, Palermo
Besides making me laugh out loud Camilleri also inspired me to try cooking some new dishes as his crime novels were interspersed with descriptions of delicious food. The television series dramatising the Inspector Montalbano novels also highlighted the protagonist’s prioritisation of food and particularly coffee in times of crisis:
Screenshot from the Inspector Montalbano TV series
My curiosity regarding Umbria Jazz had been piqued by musician Ray Gelato who plays regularly at the festival with his band The Giants. We had been chatting over coffee outside our mutual regular London haunt, Bar Italia in London’s Frith Street several months earlier. Ray’s love of Bar Italia has been immortalised into a song which is part of his repertoire.
Portrait of Ray Gelato at Bar Italia
Ray described the Umbria Jazz Festival to me and advised I book accommodation in advance as Perugia gets busy in that period. On Ray’s recommendation we stayed in a hotel right in the centre of the action, which was perfect for us.
Ray Gelato through the crowds at Umbria Jazz, 2026
Below a young child on his guitar jamming along to Ray Gelato and the Giants.
There was music everywhere – everything from buskers and brass band processions to small outdoor stages and arena gigs.
Me & Stephen snapped by a stranger before the Gilberto Gil concert at Arena Santa Giuliana
Gilberto Gil at Arena Santa Giuliana
Funk Off Italian Brass Band on the main pedestrianised boulevard of Perugia, Corso Vannucci
Buskers on the Corso Vannucci, Perugia
Above, Italian musician Francesco (on the right) who regularly performed in the street with his keyboard in a genre reminiscent of New Orleans icon Dr. John.
Mitch Woods is Brooklyn-born and California-based pianist and singer whose genres span rock, boogie-woogie, blues and jive. Mitch has lead his band The Rockets since the 80s and also currently tours with Van Morrison. It was great to meet him as he was doing a residency in the jazz club at our hotel:
Mitch Woods, 2026
Below, Ray and Mitch jamming together
Ray Gelato & Mitch Woods, Perugia, 2026
One of the surprise gigs for me was seeing the Charles Lloyd Quartet who shared the bill with Terence Blanchard & Ravi Coltrane. An 88 year old sax player and flautist – I was blown away by his spiritual energy and found his sound totally mesmerising. I also loved the background artworks which I believe were created by his wife Dorothy Darr:
Charles Lloyd Quartet
Charles Lloyd Quartet
I visited some of Perugia’s Museums during the day and in one of the rooms at the Fondazione Perugia, was struck by this painting of a woman with a tambourine or tamburella. (Possibly by Gian Domenico Cerrina also know as Il Cavalier Perugino – if anyone can confirm do let me know).
Many of the shops in Perugia had musical instruments in their windows. Here are a few examples:
Guitar as style accessory, Perugia
There was something surreal about the ukulele and tambourines juxtaposed with adverts for reducing cellulite and high-end facial fillers and beautifying creams in this pharmacy window:
Pharmacy window with ukulele, tambourines and reflections, Perugia
Vintage camera shop with vinyl records, guitar and olive oil window display
Elegant coffee shop and reflections
A couple more images of people and coffee in Perugia:
Excited pooch at the local Coffee Shop & Gelateria
My husband being a big fellow prefers to have a double espresso rather than a single; this bar in Perugia brought it to him in two separate espresso cups!
Doppio Espresso
What I didn’t let on to Ray Gelato was that I knew that Antonio, the owner of Bar Italia and Little Italy in Soho was coming to Perugia to surprise him. Antonio along with a few friends, also regulars at the cafe, were arriving on the final Saturday of the Festival, which also happened to be the day I was leaving, having arrived the Saturday before towards the start of the Festival.
Antonio Polledri in Little Italy
Back in London, I intend to keep up my tradition of going to Bar Italia.
Above, my two sons deep in conversation at Bar Italia earlier this year.
And today for breakfast I made myself coffee at home. I’m reflected in a shot of my Bialetti Moka pot with the London cityscape behind it:
Reflected self in my Bialetti Moka pot with London View
Links:
Bar Italia
Ray Gelato
Charles Lloyd
Mitch Woods
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June 4, 2026In 2025 adults started talking and writing about a phenomenon they couldn’t understand – kids shouting the numbers 6 7 followed by a weird hand movement which apparently became a craze. According to a BBC article the phrase “67”, which first gained popularity with Generation Alpha, has gone on to become a viral internet sensation and was even named Dictionary.com’s Word of the Year for 2025.
It reminded me that I too had a childhood relationship with the numbers 6 and 7 and brought back memories from the early 1960s. I had recently moved from London’s Stamford Hill to the posher Finchley and was attending Hasmonean Primary School, an Orthodox Jewish Faith State school in Hendon. In the mornings we had Jewish assembly followed by religious studies. During the summer term of 1964, the topic in Jewish assembly that week was the story of David and Bathsheba. In Hebrew, the word for Bathsheba is Batsheva. Broken down, Bat means daughter and Sheva is the number seven. Batsheva can also be translated as “seven years old”.
One morning, the headmaster, Mr. Cohen, stood in front of my class row in assembly, raised his hand and pointed at us. Gliding his hand from right to left, he announced with authority “YOU … are the most beautiful girls in the world, because you are all seven!”
Mish, bottom row, 3rd from left
I felt shock and panic – I was six.
Lonely Six
I had to be seven! Immediately. I couldn’t rationalise that according to his Batsheva theory I would eventually become beautiful in August during the summer holidays. I had to be beautiful now. I had to be like the others, not cast out on my lonely island of non-beauty. But I was very good at arithmetic so worked out that in order to be seven all I had to do was subtract a year and change my date of birth to 1956. We used to have to write our birth dates in our exercise books. It calmed me knowing that simple forgery entitled me to join the world of beautiful girls and not be the traumatised, shamed outsider I felt myself to be. And voilà I became 7 just like that!
Street Abstract with handprints, smile emoji and no.7
One day my parents received a phone call from the school who wanted to clarify how old I was as my date entries didn’t match their records. I was outed!
Nowadays I see this story as part of my journey towards authenticity, self-acceptance and embracing my reality. At the age of six I needed validation and felt ostracised from the beautiful group. A sense of otherness remains and I can still feel left out, but on the whole it manifests as individuality and independence. I have reclaimed the number six.
This is a 6, New Orleans, 2025
Self-portrait at the age of 68
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April 28, 2026I was walking into Soho Square when I spotted someone wearing a vintage traditional dark chocolate brown Astrakhan Karakul hat, and it immediately brought back memories of early childhood where I’d seen the same hats worn by male members of London’s Persian Jewish Community.
Here’s a photo that predates my birth by decades and is a studio portrait of my paternal grandmother Bibi’s relatives. Bibi, whose Hebrew name was Dvora, was the daughter of Moshe Ben Eliahu Mulla and Sarah Bat Binyamin Namdar. This is a very early photo of Bibi’s parents and brother. The image was taken in Merv in Turkmenistan. I don’t quite understand the date at the bottom but I’m assuming it was taken in 1920:
Lynton Talbot in a vintage Astrakhan hat, 2026
Above, Lynton Talbot in his vintage Astrakhan hat. We had a chat and in addition to a mutual appreciation for each other’s hats, discovered a shared background in teaching visual culture. Lynton co-runs a gallery in Wardour Street called TINA.
I realised I’d previously photographed a man in an Astrakhan hat at the winter Grand Flaneur Walk last November and I had experienced that feeling of curiosity and recognition.
Man in a Persian Lamb hat at the Winter Grand Flaneur Walk, November 2025
When my father died back in 2004 I kept his old photos and a few personal objects including his bowler hat which his initials on the inside brim. However I have no record or memory of him actually wearing it :
Dad’s bowler hat
My kids took a liking to the hat and I do have some early digital photos of my son Dan peeping out from under his duvet donning his “bobo”‘s bowler hat:
Dan in Bobo’s bowler hat, 2006
In terms of memory and continuity from my own perspective, I would say that the beret is a hat I’ve worn since I was a teenager, therefore spanning over 50 years!
I’ve always liked the retro style of the beret. Below a scan of one of my father’s old photos featuring his relatives on a beach. I vaguely remember them – I believe he did magic tricks and went by the Anglicised name of Uncle Simon as well as the Persian Dosh Lotfolloh (sic).
Vintage postcard featuring relatives in berets
Above, a scan of a photo taken during a Purim party in the at Stamford Hill’s Persian Synagogue. I am wearing a white beret, and receiving a prize from my late Uncle Khalil. I had dressed up as Bonnie, inspired by Faye Dunaway in the 1967 film Bonnie and Clyde. The photo probably dates from the late 60s as I cut my hair short around that time.
Next, me in a blue beret and retro sunglasses pointing a toy gun at Rossano Sanavio in Padova in 1979/1980. I think we were trying to create a homage to French New Wave cinema, and that the inspiration was the director Jean-Luc Godard:
Me and Moriyama, 2023
Above a selfie taken at an exhibition of one of my favourite photographers, Daido Moriyama, back in 2023
Next a series of recent street photographs and portraits featuring berets. The first three shots were taken in the Kings Cross Area:
Beret and clouds, Kings Cross, 2026
Vintage style on the tube, 2026
Photographer Chris Freeman, 2024
A few from Soho:
Graeme Webb talking to Brian Stewart, Little Italy, December2025
Frith Street, 2026
And finally one of Soho local Julian, walking down Frith Street with an antique rug casually draped over his shoulder:
Julian, 2026
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Great to see @dameon_priestly_artist Dameon Priestly’s NO! 1968 show before it ended today and chat to the man and his lovely partner in person. Dameon I made you an album cover if you ever fancy recording one! #portrait #artist #bnw #creativity #memory
Autumnal impromptu portrait #autumnvibes #streetportrait #unexp_collective #womeninstreet #street_badass
Momentary illusion in Kentish Town with passing truck #abstract #streetphotography #illusion #cityscape #leica
Abstract illusions #streetphotography #reflection #dreaminstreets #womenstreetphotographers #surrealism @womeninstreet @unexp_collective @street_badass
Colourful autumn #autumn #fujifilm #autumnvibes #colourful #landscapephotography
My son Raf @rafriley4real preparing to balance on one leg whilst holding an Americano in one hand and a cigarette in the other! #streetportrait #balance #son #femlens #beyondthefamilyalbum
A series of 5 images featuring graffiti relating to bodily functions. The photos were taken in London between 2021 and as recently as this week. STOP PEEING HERE CCTV just popped up in Gospel Oak the other day. #graffiti #bodilyfunctions #humour #documentary #documentaryphotography #documentingbritain #visualculture #signs #humantraces #streetphotography
Percussionist Bill Bland in the foreground – an image from the November Afro Cuban Music Night #musicians #bnw #livemusic #afrocuban #percussion #halloween #afrocubanmusicnight
