Illustrator Stanley Chow has transformed Manchester Arndale into a free summer art trail featuring 13 oversized inflatable portraits inspired by some of the city's best-known names. The installation expands on his "Mecca" project and turns the shopping centre into a playful celebration of Manchester identity.
The trail highlights a mix of cultural and historic figures, including the Gallaghers and Emmeline Pankhurst. It also introduces a new portrait of suffragette Ellen, adding another recognisable face to Chow's growing gallery of Manchester icons.
Chow's style is widely recognised for its bold shapes and stripped-back look, even by people who may not immediately know his name. His artwork has become closely associated with public figures and local personalities, helping make this new Arndale display instantly familiar to many visitors.
By bringing large-scale inflatables into a busy city-centre venue, the project gives shoppers and families an easy way to engage with Manchester-themed art at no cost. The result is a bright, accessible tribute to the people who have helped shape the city's image across music, politics and social history.
