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Killy Kilford in the studio

About Killy

Killy Kilford is a British NYC-based painter, published author and creative change consultant. As a sound color synesthete, Kilford sees colors when he hears music, and for the last ten years his painting practice has focused on the creation of over one hundred large abstract musical landscapes; all painted live on stage during the performances of renowned musicians including Iggy Pop, Damon Albarn, Buena Vista Social Club, The Vaccines, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.

Kilford is a former executive consultant to the British Government who commissioned him to write several books that help public and private sector organizations to manage change more effectively.

After moving to Manhattan in January 2013, Kilford was drawn immediately to street signs whilst walking around the city. The signs triggered a fusion of his inspirations including semiotics, well-being statistics, contemporary American fine art, behavioral science and love.

The outcome was the creation of a new series of paintings that juxtaposed traditional street sign structures with motivational phrases that aim to inspire well-being and positive change. The paintings were then used to manufacture two hundred government specification street signs, which he then unofficially installed with a team of over fifty volunteers in Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Kilford is creating his next series of Happy Street Sign paintings from his studio in TriBeCa, New York City.



Connect with Killy

Contact studio

Happy Street Signs

On November 12th 2013, New York City became the first of many cities to be installed with Happy Street Signs. The objective of the “Happy Street Sign” project is to generate moments of joy for people and contribute to a measurable increase in community connectivity and happiness.

7 pieces

Street Signs

Happy Street Signs

Listen To Your Heart artwork

Listen To Your Heart

Venue: New York City Streets
Public Installation of 200
Installed 12 November 2013
Printed Aluminium
Numbered NYC Hologram on reverse

Honk Less Love More artwork

Honk Less Love More

Venue: New York City Streets
Public Installation of 200
Installed 12 November 2013
Printed Aluminium
Numbered NYC Hologram on reverse

Do Great Things Today artwork

Do Great Things Today

Venue: New York City Streets
Public Installation of 200
Installed 12 November 2013
Printed Aluminium
Numbered NYC Hologram on reverse

New York Loves You artwork

New York Loves You

Venue: New York City Streets
Public Installation of 200
Installed 12 November 2013
Printed Aluminium
Numbered NYC Hologram on reverse

Big City Big Smile artwork

Big City Big Smile

Venue: New York City Streets
Public Installation of 200
Installed 12 November 2013
Printed Aluminium
Numbered NYC Hologram on reverse

Have A Great Day artwork

Have A Great Day

Venue: New York City Streets
Public Installation of 200
Installed 12 November 2013
Printed Aluminium
Numbered NYC Hologram on reverse

Dream Believe Achieve Repeat artwork

Dream Believe Achieve Repeat

Venue: New York City Streets
Public Installation of 200
Installed 12 November 2013
Printed Aluminium
Numbered NYC Hologram on reverse

NYC

I moved to NYC in January 2013 and I walked for miles every day, extremely happy to be here looking up. I fell in love with the City, the people and the street signs which collectively triggered a new phase of creativity for me. I started painting large canvases of street signs and it is these paintings that inspired the installation of Happy Street Signs.

7 pieces

NYC Art

NYC ART

Honk Less Love More artwork

Honk Less Love More

Venue: Killy Kilford NYC Studio
Inspired by: Don't Honk $350 Penalty
70.2"x91.7"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed on the reverse by Killy

Start artwork

Start

Venue: Killy Kilford NYC Studio
Inspired by: Stop signs
51.5"x51.7"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed on the reverse by Killy

U Turns are okay artwork

U Turns are okay

Venue: Killy Kilford NYC Studio
Inspired by: No U Turn signs
36.0"x48.0"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed on the reverse by Killy

Do Good artwork

Do Good

Venue: Killy Kilford NYC Studio
Inspired by: No Parking - street cleaning sign
48.0"x36.0"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed on the reverse by Killy

My Way artwork

My Way

Venue: Killy Kilford NYC Studio
Inspired by: One Way signs
73.0"x38.0"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed on the reverse by Killy

No Facebook No Instagram artwork

No Facebook No Instagram

Venue: Killy Kilford NYC Studio
Inspired by: No Photos No Videos
47.0"x61.5"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed on the reverse by Killy

Sometimes I love you isn’t enough artwork

Sometimes I love you isn’t enough

Venue: Killy’s NYC studio
Installed in Norwood, NYC
52" x 52"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Killy

Music Painting

In this section you can scroll through a selection of 50 Live Music Paintings ranging from 2005 to 2012. You can also view photos and videos from the gig itself which will help you get a vibe of what it was like on the day the painting was created.

50 pieces

Music Paintings

Music Painting 2013

Available enquire now  artwork

Jonathan Batiste

Venue: Norwood, NYC
48"x72"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and Jonathan Batiste
Price: Contact studio

Music Painting 2011

 artwork

The Vaccines

Venue: Shoreditch House
Shoreditch House, London
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and The Vaccines

 artwork

Turbogeist

Venue: Sonisphere Festival
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and Turbogeist

Available enquire now  artwork

Anthrax

Painted live
Venue: Sonisphere, Knebworth
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford
Price: Contact studio

 artwork

Tallulah Rendall

Painted live
Venue: London
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford

 artwork

Orlando Seal and the Swell

Painted live
Venue: The Social, London
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and Orlando

 artwork

Buildings

Painted live
Venue: The Social, London
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and Buildings
Price: Contact studio

 artwork

Air Castles

Painted live
Venue: The Social, London
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and Air Castles

 artwork

Paper Crows

Painted live
Venue: The Social, London
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and Paper Crows

 artwork

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Painted live
Venue: Waterloo Tunnels, London
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford, Jade and Alexandra

 artwork

Charlene Soraia

Painted live
Venue: The Social, London
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and Charlene

 artwork

Missing Andy

Painted live
Venue: The Social, London
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and Missing Andy

 artwork

Gwenno Saunders

Painted live
Venue: The Social, London
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and Gwenno

 artwork

Alexander Wolfe

Painted live
Venue: The Social, London
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and Alexander

Music Painting 2010

 artwork

John Cage

Painted live
Venue: Dean St Studios, London
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and all musicians present.

 artwork

Tom Hodge - Unplugged

Painted live
Venue: St Pancras, London
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and Tom Hodge

 artwork

Noah Francis and Wu Tang

Painted live
Venue: BBC Studios, London
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford, Noah Francis, Prodigal Sunn and Shyheim

 artwork

Zarif

Painted live
Venue: The Social, London
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and Zarif

 artwork

I Blame Coco

Painted live
Venue: Freeze Festival, London
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and Coco

 artwork

Akala

Painted live
Venue: The Social, London
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and Akala

 artwork

Ras Kwame

Painted live
Venue: MOBO Awards, London
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and Ras Kwame

 artwork

Laurel Collective

Painted live
Venue: The Social, London
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and Laurel Collective

 artwork

Buena Vista Social Club

Painted live
Venue: Standon Calling Festival, UK
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford

 artwork

Iggy And The Stooges

Painted live
Venue: Sonisphere Festival, Knebworth, UK
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford

 artwork

Pendulum

Painted live
Venue: Sonisphere Festival, Knebworth, UK
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford

 artwork

Skunk Anansie

Painted live
Venue: Sonisphere Festival, Knebworth, UK
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford

 artwork

King Charles

Painted live
Venue: The Social, London
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and King Charles

 artwork

Swami

Painted live
Venue: The Social, London
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and Swami

 artwork

Fran and Josh

Painted live
Venue: The Social, London
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and Fran and Josh

 artwork

Rotten Hill Gang

Painted live
Venue: The Cobden Club, London
23"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and Rotten Hill Gang

 artwork

Stairs to Korea

Painted live
Venue: The Social, London
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and Stairs to Korea

 artwork

The Woodentops - Unplugged

Painted live
Venue: The Social, London
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford, Rolo McGinty and Mal

 artwork

John And Jehn

Painted live
Venue: The Social, London
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford, John and Jehn

Music Painting 2009

 artwork

The Woodentops

Painted live
Venue: Royal Festival Hall, London
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and The Woodentops

 artwork

Cerys Matthews

Painted live
Venue: Union Chapel, London
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and Cerys Matthews

 artwork

The Magic Numbers

Painted live
Venue: Union Chapel, London
23"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and The Magic Numbers

 artwork

The Charlatans

Painted live
Venue: The Social, London
23"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and The Charlatans

 artwork

Ernest Ranglin

Painted live
Venue: Ronnie Scott's, London
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and Ernest Ranglin

 artwork

St Etienne

Painted live
Venue: The Social, London
23"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and St Etienne

 artwork

For a Minor Reflection

Painted live
Venue: NASA, Reykjavík, Iceland
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and For A Minor Reflection

 artwork

Baaba Maal

Painted live
Venue: BBC Television Centre, London
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and Baaba Maal

Available enquire now  artwork

Kasabian

Painted live
Venue: Royal Albert Hall, London
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford
Price: Contact studio

Music Painting 2008

Available enquire now  artwork

Deep Purple

Painted live
Venue: Porchester Hall, London
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and Deep Purple
Price: Contact studio

Music Painting 2007

 artwork

Status Quo

Painted live
Venue: Porchester Hall, London
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and Status Quo

 artwork

Damon Albarn, Brian Eno

Painted live
Venue: Greenpeace Arctic Sunrise Ship, River Thames
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford, Damon Albarn, Brian Eno

Music Painting 2006

Available enquire now  artwork

Paul Weller, Robert Plant

Painted live
Venue: Porchester Hall, London
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and Paul Weller
Price: Contact studio

 artwork

Black Eyed Peas

Painted live
Venue: Sun City, South Africa
47"x70"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and Black Eyed Peas

 artwork

The Charlatans

Painted live
Venue: Brixton Academy, London
67"x82"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and The Charlatans

 artwork

Feeder

Painted live
Venue: NEC, Birmingham, UK
66"x75"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and Feeder

Music Painting 2005

 artwork

The Feeling

Painted live
Venue: Carling Academy, Birmingham, UK
69"x95"
Acrylic on canvas
Signed by Kilford and The Feeling

Sign up

Instagram

Instagram photo

The goal of this exhibit was to let the Czech people form their own opinions of this publication #freedom #expression #CharlieHebdo at DOX #Prague

Instagram photo

Hanging with the twins today Dresie and Casie at the #RogerBallen #CCFP exhibition #Prague

fan

badmanscott Triplets you mean lol

Instagram photo

Squirrel with big balls wearing a mini bear skin stuck on a scissor fork #Prague #dvoraksecgallery

fan

J U S T I N Obviously

fan

Kate Grace Bauer @ashleylongshoreart

fan

Victorine Deych @cpomponi261 @cindyascholz

Instagram photo

Genius! Model Jesus anyone ? Another great piece from #DavidCerny #Prague #Praha at Dvorak Sec Contemporary Gallery

Instagram photo

Love this painting. At opening of @krajcart #prague #painter Dvorak Sec Contemporary Gallery

Instagram photo

Love this ... "In utero" by #davidcerny - #Prague #Praha

fan

Francesca Abbott Have you moved to Prague?

fan

Derek Walker bit.ly/1u2xa1q

Instagram photo

#music #color #paint

fan

Mark Amazing pic!

fan

The Flower Union @killykilford so glad things are going so well for you. Wd love a catch up drink when you are next in Ldn :) xxx

Instagram photo

Yup - there's more of my fav's #Repost @dianadelirious with @repostapp.#killykilford painting at #norwoodclub FUCKING LOVE YOU" @ryanfreakinhall #norwoodhavana #mybuttisbig

fan

Lisa.green22@hotmail.com Call or text me at. 908-338-5424. Or email.

Instagram photo

In the mix #Paint

Instagram photo

just heard a song from these guys and gave me a #flashback from when I painted onstage with them. Music Painting with Buena Vista Social Club 2010 photo by @bloomerjosh #Paint #live #music

fan

Josh Bloomer What a fuckin great photo! :-p

Instagram photo

Y'all ... Repost @stetik_official with @repostapp. "Likes don't pay the bills."

fan

Sammy-John Cook I want this on a plaque!

Instagram photo

Just had a #flashback from my live music painting days. @esmzeros - one of the most amazing, magical, creative experiences - shall never forget that gig #edwardsharpe #magic #music #home #esmzeros

fan

Nadine Good times. :) #OneLove

fan

galenayers Love

Instagram photo

I'm reposting my fav's - couple of hundred left :-) . Via @nataliecolwell with @repostapp. #killykilford painting at #norwoodclub: #tbt with ma' #girls #ifuckingloveyou #art #nyc @agnese29 @escobarbs

Instagram photo

Best bottle design for an energy drink ever? #design #Fakeer #Prague

fan

Emma Best name too

fan

James Pentland @ellie_quin you'd like this

fan

ellie_quin @pentland you know me too well!!! I want one

Instagram photo

A custom Truth Sign ready to leave the studio (#juno permitting). No.6/6 for a special commission Acrylic on Canvas #truthsigns #NYC #live #love #laugh

fan

Bobby Bailey So beautiful, miss you brother. You

fan

Samuel Goldberg This is so nice. I want it ! ;)

fan

jbstevens This one, yesss

Instagram photo

Guess the translation.. 'Snowing Loads' ? #SNOW #Signs #Prague

fan

Sinud Maria @SoDopeThings

Instagram photo

Todays color #Paint #NYC #studio

fan

tarlanr My favorite color!

Instagram photo

I've popped and now I can't stop with this #repostapp thing. Repost from @dan_puck #killykilford painting installed in #norwoodclub #NYC #art

fan

Danielle Duboise Whoa! Worlds colliding! @killykilford @dan_puck @noel_elie love you all!

fan

Susanna W. One of my fav photo shoots @norwoodclub