This autumn, the streets of British coastal town Thanet have become living canvases for a powerful new wave of public art. She Rises With the Sea–a collaboration between Power of Women Thanet (POW) and Louis Michel of Rise Up Residency (RUR)–unites environmental urgency with feminist storytelling through a trio of vibrant new murals across Margate, Broadstairs, and Westbrook. Conceived as a tribute to the women and girls leading the charge in ocean conservation, the series not only celebrates community, resilience, and creativity but also confronts the escalating crisis facing our seas.
Two of the murals were unveiled on October 11th in honour of International Day of the Girl, marking the project as both a global call to action and a deeply local celebration. At its helm is internationally acclaimed Scottish muralist KMG, whose folkloric visual language meets the mission-driven ethos of both RUR and POW. Working alongside Margate-based artist Louis Michel, KMG brings her vision to life while also nurturing new talent: rising local artist Nemi Gardner (Autonemy), who will create the final mural to be revealed this December.
In this conversation, Culturalee sits down with Louis Michel, KMG, and Creative Debuts Founder Calum Hall to explore how art, activism, and community intertwine, revealing the stories, collaborations, and shared purpose behind She Rises With the Sea.
Culturalee in Conversation with Louis Michel
She Rises With the Sea brings together artists, activists, and communities to celebrate women and the ocean, both symbols of resilience and renewal. How did you approach translating such powerful, interconnected themes into visual form across the different Thanet locations?
From the perspective of RUR we set a fixed brief that carry’s from one year over to the next. we live by the ocean and we are also a community beach clean CIC so this brief is always about the ocean and the stories the ocean wants us to hear. For the most part the ocean is suffering a multitude of environmental tragedies so a lot of artists naturally gravitate towards these subject matters. There is also something to be said about how I curate the artists who are already having open discussions about environmental and humanitarian issues, so part of the success in the end results is the artists that we invite. We were approached by POW to create a mural as celebration of their tenth year empowering women in the arts. So essentially the ingredients were all present from the outset so when KMG accepted the invitation it was over to her own interpretation of what that environmental story would be and how it portrayed the power of women. She nailed it.
Mentorship and collaboration are at the heart of this project, from KMG’s guidance to Autonemy’s first major mural. How has this creative exchange between international, established, and emerging artists shaped not only the final artworks but also your personal perspectives on community and artistic responsibility?
Mentoring (wo-mentoring) has been something I have wanted to intertwine into the makeup of RUR and this year allowed for this to start, hopefully it will continue into future years. As an artist myself I know that firstly it’s a tough industry but there also isn’t much mentoring happening at least not that I have experienced. As a somewhat successful artist now, I feel it’s my responsibility to share some of my knowledge and experience’s. We haven’t finished our wo-mentoring yet with Autonemy and her mural is coming next year and when the time is right it will come into existence, we are very excited about that.
Public art has the power to spark dialogue in everyday spaces. What conversations do you hope these murals will inspire, within the Thanet community and beyond, about women’s voices, environmental stewardship, and the role of creativity in collective action? What role did Creative Debuts play in the project, and where did the title ‘She Rises with Sea’ come from?
Creative debuts have been nestled in amongst the contemporary urban art movement now for a while and over the years we have shared good conversations about our roles as artists and facilitators. CD has a grant programme that allows support for activism via public art, we saw that and applied. The grant is amazing as a platform as not enough public art is used for activism, and when artist do want to be active within the public domain, there is a lack of funds. CD are providing a valuable niche in the world of grants.
She rises with the sea was a collaborative name that RUR and POW explored together, it’s a great tagline for the project and speaks for itself really. I’d also like to give thanks to our other partner Natracare who via the 1% for the planet scheme has over the years continued to support our projects. this year with the story being about empowering women, there couldn’t be a better brand to align with.
Culturalee in Conversation with KMG
She Rises With the Sea brings together artists, activists, and communities to celebrate women and the ocean, both symbols of resilience and renewal. How did you approach translating such powerful, interconnected themes into visual form across the different Thanet locations?
I began by thinking about areas of ocean conservation that were already present within my mind. Having an existing interest in the protection of orcas and sharks within our UK waters this was an easy starting point of inspiration for me. I was aware of the fact that orcas are matriarchal species and that female sharks are often viewed as dominant, especially when pregnant. I thought this was a a beautiful way to symbolise the importance of the power of women and link it to species that are under threat due to pollution, fishing and bycatch. Orcas and Tope Sharks, although hard to spot by those not looking, have also been recorded along the coast near where the murals were painted. Connecting the subjects of the murals to the location and opening up a conversation for those who are unaware of what species actually live alongside them and the importance of awareness in order to help protect them.
Mentorship and collaboration are at the heart of this project, from KMG’s guidance to Autonemy’s first major mural. How has this creative exchange between international, established, and emerging artists shaped not only the final artworks but also your personal perspectives on community and artistic responsibility?
Mentorship and collaboration is always such an important part of creative growth and exchange. It enables artists to learn new perspective and skills that can lead both the mentee, mentor or collaborator in to new directions of work development. It can help with confidence and the ability to take risks and explore methods of work that perhaps seemed unavailable before. It’s especially important when artists are given a chance to work with local artists working within the communities they are visiting, as it connects them to the spaces they’re creating work in and the enables them to have a more genuine connection to the work they’re creating within that space and the people who will be living alongside it.
Culturalee in Conversation with Calum Hall
What was it about the Ocean Conservation mural project that motivated you to sponsor it?
I wanted to sponsor because of the message, the impact of art in local communities and to further celebrate Creative Debut’s commitment to art with purpose and bringing art to everyday experiences. I was drawn to the Ocean Conservation mural project because it combines stunning art with a crucial message. The oceans are vital to our planet, and this project is a brilliant way to raise awareness about their protection. I wanted to support something that not only beautifies the community but also gets people talking about environmental issues. It’s all about inspiring action and making a difference, and these murals do just that.
You have been involved in many high profile outdoor arts projects. Do you think public art, murals and outdoor installations are the most impactful way of engaging with communities and the wider public – more so than a traditional gallery?
I’ve been involved in quite a few outdoor arts projects, and I genuinely believe public art, like murals, has a real impact that traditional galleries often don’t achieve. Public art is for everyone; it’s out there in the streets, accessible to all, and it invites people to engage with it in their everyday lives.
Murals can spark conversations and create a sense of community that you just don’t get in a gallery setting. They turn public spaces into vibrant canvases, making important issues visible and relatable. Plus, they reach a wider audience, from locals to tourists, encouraging everyone to think about the messages behind the art.
In short, while galleries have their place, public art brings people together in a way that’s lively and inclusive, making it a powerful tool for engagement and awareness.
Follow ‘She Rises with the Sea’ here.
