Paint Lab

Creativity and science collide once again as one of London’s most iconic streets becomes a vast open-air art gallery!

Returning to the Great Exhibition Road Festival for its fourth year, Paint Lab 2026 invites visitors to witness the power of live art as ten London-based artists create bold new works in front of them.

This year’s theme — Past, Present and Future — challenges the artists to explore how scientific ideas move through time. Inspired by conversations with researchers from Imperial College London, the artists will bring these ideas to life in their work. Together, the artworks will explore not only the present-day research shaping our understanding of the world, but also the historical foundations that made those discoveries possible and the future implications they may bring.

See the works created in 2025.

Visitor information

This is a drop-in event suitable for all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

The event has step-free access.

To attend the Festival, please make sure to register for free. Registering is the only way to receive the latest Festival updates, a first look at the programme, and opportunities to book free tickets for popular events.