The University of Aberdeen has unveiled its first Nuart Aberdeen mural at its King's College campus in Old Aberdeen - inspired by one of its first female graduates.
Local artist KMG installed the mural in the Cruickshank Botanic Garden earlier this month, influenced by the work of Aberdeen nature writer and poet Nan Shepherd.
The mural, on a rear wall of the University’s Zoology building facing into the garden, depicts a blackbird in KMG’s trademark style with the words “unheard, unseen” included as a tribute to Shepherd’s work from the 1940s.
Nan Shepherd studied at the University of Aberdeen from 1912 to 1915 and graduated with an MA shortly after the outbreak of World War One. She maintained strong ties with the University as an alumna, editing the Aberdeen University Review and giving literature lectures until she was well into her eighties. She received an honorary doctorate from the University in 1964.
As well as becoming home to one of this year’s cohort of murals, the University has officially partnered with Nuart Aberdeen and will host the first day of the Nuart Street Art Conference.
The conference will feature talks and lectures from some of the world’s leading street artists alongside academics, authors, researchers, curators, producers, writers and other cultural-sector professionals who are dedicated to exploring issues surrounding new forms of art and activity in public space.
Day one of the conference, which takes place in King’s College Conference Centre on 24 April, will focus on forms of urban creativity, past and present.
The programme for the day consists of talks on a variety of subjects including historical and contemporary graffiti, examining 900 years of graffiti in Orkney and tourist graffiti from the Romantic era.
Professor Peter Edwards, Principal and Vice-Chancellor at the University of Aberdeen, said: “This mural by KMG is a welcome addition to the University’s Cruickshank Botanic Garden, brightening an already vibrant and popular space on our King’s College campus.
“It is even more fitting that the work honours our renowned alumna Nan Shepherd, whose writing has inspired generations of authors and showcased the nature of Scotland and the north-east on an international stage.
“I am delighted the University has partnered with Nuart Aberdeen to promote the art and culture of our city. I look forward to welcoming everyone for day one of the Nuart Street Art Conference and to enjoy the mural at the heart of our campus.”
Nuart Founder and Curator Martyn Reed said: “Absolutely thrilled with this work and the collaboration with the University of Aberdeen. KMG was initially engaged to work on quite a different project, but as soon as I saw this wall, the location, the history of the site and the possibility of engaging once more with Mark at the Botanic Garden, I knew KMG was the artist to ask. This alongside the collaboration with the History of Art department for the conference has hopefully laid the foundations for a long and productive relationship with the University, the possibilities are endless.”
Nuart Aberdeen 2026 takes place from 22 to 26 April across the city. You can get your tickets for all the exciting Nuart Aberdeen events here.