Mural designed by Fine Art student unveiled at St Johns Shopping Centre

St Johns Shopping Centre Liverpool has unveiled a bold new art installation on the top floor of its car park which has been designed by Alicia Woolley, a final-year Fine Art student at LJMU.

The Liverpool Wall of Wonder mural series is 1.5m high and spans 145m across 16 expansive wall spaces - covering an area about the same size as a tennis court.

Alicia’s creative vision celebrates Liverpool’s rich cultural heritage, immortalising icons and landmarks through bold, bright digital collages. The installation includes legendary figures such as The Beatles, Cilla Black, and double World Champion heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson, as well as the unmistakable colours of Everton and Liverpool Football Clubs. The city’s architectural gems—the Three Graces, Chinatown, St Johns Beacon, and Royal Albert Dock—also take pride of place in the designs.

‘Highlight of my CV’

Alicia said: “I wanted the murals to capture the soul of Liverpool. This city has such a powerful identity with its music, its humour and its people. I hope these images encourage people to stop, look up, and feel a little more joy in their day. I have also learnt so much through this project."

Working with the team at St Johns and their suppliers to deliver this huge installation has been amazing opportunity and it will be the highlight of my CV for some time to come!

Final year Fine Art student and mural artist, Alicia Woolley

Alicia applied for a Discovery Internship, alongside her studies, with the centre to create the mural. Discovery Internships are offered to LJMU students through its Student Futures service, enhancing their employability skills and offering the opportunity to gain career insight by working with a local organisation in the Liverpool City Region to deliver a real-life project.

Following a successful interview with St Johns Centre Director Neil Ashcroft and his team, Alicia attended site visits and took part in creative exchanges before full-scale production began in March, and the mural is now open for everyone to see.

Our shopping centre is more than a place to shop, it is a space that connects with people and supports the local community. Alicia has created something that does just that in a truly inspiring way. The Liverpool Wall of Wonder is not only a stunning visual statement, but also a love letter to this city. We’re proud to have supported a young artist in creating something so memorable and impactful.

Neil Ashcroft, Centre Director at St Johns

Working in partnership with LJMU

The work with Alicia and the funding of the installation is part of St Johns Shopping Centre’s commitment to supporting young people and the local community, and is just one part of the ongoing relationship with LJMU. In the last 18 months the centre has supported job shadowing for students with disabilities, worked with marketing students through a live project and delivered Graduate Insight sessions focusing on careers in retail. 

We’re so proud of Alicia’s work and are thrilled to see her creative talent on display for all to see at this Liverpool landmark. We are committed at LJMU to providing a student experience that contributes to our students’ future professional success, and it’s through partnerships like ours with St Johns Shopping Centre that we can offer invaluable experience in the workplace that ensures our students are ready for employment as they progress into their graduate careers.

Chris Finn, Director of Student Futures at LJMU

Any organisations wanting to work with LJMU students can contact the Student Futures’ Employer Engagement team.

Viewing the mural

To mark the completion of the installation a special unveiling event took place on the evening of Thursday 5 June at the top of the iconic St Johns Beacon in the city centre. The exclusive celebration was attended by the Alicia’s family and friends, and over 60 invited guests including the Lord Mayor of Liverpool Councillor Richard Kemp CBE and Professor Rachel McLean, Director of LJMU’s School of Art and Design.

The Liverpool Wall of Wonder is now open to the public and can be viewed on level 4a of the St Johns Shopping Centre Car Park.

We are constantly seeking ways to enhance the customer experience, and Alicia’s work does just that—transforming a functional space into something uplifting and unforgettable. The Liverpool Wall of Wonder brings colour, culture, and joy to the car park, and we are thrilled to be part of this project. 

Ben Sullivan, Director at Apex Parking