Jay Kaes – Plural Strength

A mural by Jay Kaes that uses sport as a visual metaphor to represent diversity, migration and the collective construction of Nou Barris.

The artist: Jay Kaes

Jay Kaes is a British visual artist based in London who works across muralism, illustration and graphic design. He has painted murals in over 20 countries, developing a distinctive visual language that merges realism, comics and technology into a style he defines as Glitch Pop.

His work questions the perception of reality and celebrates imperfection through figurative compositions, expressive characters and references to contemporary digital culture. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with institutions such as the Santander Foundation and exhibited his work internationally, establishing himself as a recognised voice within the contemporary mural art scene.

In his public space projects, Jay Kaes uses this visual language to build narratives connected to the social and cultural context of the places where he intervenes, integrating community, identity and territory into each work.

The artwork: “Força Plural”

Location: Via Favència, 230, Nou Barris, Barcelona.

The mural Força Plural takes as its starting point the recent history of Nou Barris as a territory shaped by diversity, migration and collective strength. The work depicts a relay race led by diverse individuals moving forward together—an image that functions as a clear metaphor for the neighbourhood: no one arrives alone, progress is shared, and each generation receives and passes on a baton.

Building on this central scene, Jay Kaes incorporates direct references to the history and popular culture of Nou Barris, such as the Baró and Trini giants or the Drac de Baró, integrating them into the composition as symbols of local identity. The mural also features elements with strong symbolic meaning: the backpack as a reminder of migratory processes, the baton as a symbol of adaptation and continuity, and the red carnation associated with working-class origins, struggle and popular identity.

The overall composition creates a collective image that speaks of coexistence, belonging and community, using sport as a shared language and as a meeting space that connects generations and diverse experiences within the district.

NOU Sentit Urbà: urban art in the Nou Barris district

This intervention is part of the 18 artistic actions of the NOU Sentit Urbà project, promoted by Barcelona City Council and produced by Rebobinart, with the collaboration of the Nou Barris District and local neighborhood communities.
The project recovers collective memories and local identities through murals, installations, and participatory processes, addressing themes such as older age, sustainability, migration, neighborhood women, vernacular architecture, or sport as a force for cohesion. Each intervention adds a piece to Nou Barris’ shared story, reinforcing the value of memory and the role of urban art as a tool for social transformation.