In Inspire Me, History of Exeter, Culture

Look up as you enter Exeter from New Bridge Street and you’ll discover a striking new piece of public art celebrating the character, heritage and creativity of our city’s West Quarter.

The Eyes of Isca is the second installation in InExeter’s 2025–2030 Street Art Project, transforming a prominent seven-storey wall into a bold and colourful celebration of Exeter.

Created by Devon-based muralist Szabotage, the artwork is designed to capture the spirit of the West Quarter and offer a memorable (and Insta-worthy) welcome to everyone arriving in the city.

A mural inspired by the West Quarter

The Eyes of Isca is much more than a striking piece of street art. Its design has been shaped by the people, places, stories and history of the West Quarter.

To develop the artwork, Szabotage spent time exploring the area, meeting local businesses, speaking with visitors and working alongside a local historian. This research helped him uncover the details and stories that make the West Quarter unique, which he then brought together within the mural.

The finished piece features a series of duo-tone motifs, each representing a different connection to the area. Some are immediately recognisable, while others are more mysterious, encouraging you to stop, look closer and work out what they might mean.

And there are certainly some unexpected details to discover. Why is there a man in a chicken suit? What’s the significance of the knight chess piece? Can you spot the building hidden within the design?

Look closer and discover something new

At the heart of the mural is a portrait of a woman, reflecting the human side of the West Quarter – a neighbourhood shaped by the people who live, work and visit there.

Szabotage’s architectural background also played an important role in the design. Rather than treating the wall as a simple flat canvas, he worked with its unusual shape, incorporating the buttress wall to create a multi-dimensional artwork.

This means the mural changes depending on where you stand. From a distance, you can appreciate the scale and overall composition, while getting closer reveals smaller details, hidden connections and unexpected elements.

It’s an artwork that rewards curiosity – and you may find yourself spotting something new every time you pass.

Meet the artist: Szabotage

The artist behind Szabotage is Devon-based muralist Gustav Szabo, whose work combines bold colour, stencil imagery and layered storytelling.

His artistic style has been influenced by his architectural background and time living in Hong Kong. His murals often bring together local history, culture and everyday life, creating artworks that encourage people to stop and take a closer look.

With The Eyes of Isca, Szabotage has created a piece that feels rooted in Exeter while bringing a fresh and contemporary energy to the city streets.

A new landmark for Exeter

Created as part of InExeter’s ongoing Street Art Project and delivered in partnership with the property owner, The Eyes of Isca is helping to transform a prominent city-centre space into a landmark piece of public art.

Standing at one of Exeter’s key entrances, the mural celebrates the distinctive identity of the West Quarter while offering visitors a colourful welcome to the city.

So, next time you’re heading into Exeter via New Bridge Street, look up. Take a moment to explore The Eyes of Isca and see how many of its stories you can spot.

You might discover something you didn’t see the first time.

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