The 'Face of Stoke-on-Trent’ is a giant art installation that has been installed on an electricity substation in Lichfield Street near Hanley Town Hall in the city centre.
The mural by Helen Marshall was created from 3,550 photographs to reveal the iconic face of 23-year-old Jozef Clark. The photo mosaic work of the award winning artist is rooted in photography and socially engaged practice.
'The People’s Picture' – run by the award-winning artist Helen Marshall was commissioned by the city council to create the artwork as part of Stoke-on-Trent’s bid to become UK City of Culture 2021.
The photos were collected over 29 days through an online campaign, and a team of local photographers stationed across the city to find a face to represent the city. The 172sq ft, 4m (13ft) tall image is made up of the photographs collected during the project – which together create Jozef’s face.
'Jozef, A 23-year-old who used the YMCA to help to turn his life around has been chosen as the Face of Stoke-on-Trent. Jozef turned to the YMCA for help after suffering problems with his mental health as a teenager. He is now hoping to become a mental health support worker, and believes his home city deserves to be named UK City of Culture.
On Saturday 25th November 2017 the public Face of Stoke-on-Trent celebration event was held outside the artwork. Residents and visitors had the chance to speak to Jozef and some of the shortlisted ‘faces’, as well as Helen, photographers, representatives from B Arts, the SOTogether Social Impacts Group, and others involved in the project.
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The digital commemorative booklet can be seen at the following link: (
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A report about the pub, by Aimi Redfern appeared in The Sentinel on 23rd November 2017.
The report reads as follows;
"Jozef, 23, is revealed as 'The Face of Stoke-on-Trent'
YMCA worker's photograph is chosen for mosaic commissioned as part of City of Culture 2021 bid
YMCA worker Jozef Clark has been chosen as ‘The Face of Stoke-on-Trent’.
The 23-year-old’s photograph was selected from more than 3,000 images of the city’s people to form the main face in a specially-commissioned piece of artwork.
Created as part of Stoke-on-Trent’s campaign to be named UK City of Culture 2021, the 172sq ft mosaic is made up of the photographs collected during the project – which together create Jozef’s face.
It will now go on display in the city centre from Saturday.
Former Middlehurst Special School student Jozef, who lives in Stoke, became involved after a photographer came into the YMCA in Hanley, where he works in catering.
He said: “I was happy to do the photo, and I later found out I was picked as one of the final eight.
“I can’t believe I have been chosen to be the main face, I’m lost for words.”
The mosaic has been created by award-winning artist Helen Marshall, who runs the People’s Picture Project.
She said: “We ran a campaign over 29 days, during which we collected 3,550 photos around the city.
“I met with the SOTogether Social Impacts Group who were very vocal about who should be the face. They wanted a young person who had their future ahead of them and would benefit from being ‘the face’.
“I chose the shortlist of eight and it was Jozef’s face that created the most conversation among the group, about what his story could be.”
Jozef turned to the YMCA for help after suffering problems with his mental health as a teenager. He is now hoping to become a mental health support worker, and believes his home city deserves to be named UK City of Culture.
He said: “My life is on the up now. I’ve moved out of the hostel and am in my own place. I’m working at a shop and also as part of a catering team.
“Our city is one of the best out there. When I think of Stoke-on-Trent I think of pottery, family, friends, community, and hard work. This city is expanding and growing and I think we’re moving forwards in a good way. Becoming City of Culture would be a great opportunity for us.”
The artwork will be exhibited on the electricity substation near Hanley Town Hall, and a public celebration event will be held there from noon on Saturday. It is expected to stay on show for five years.
Twenty ‘featured faces’ from the project will also be displayed at the nearby former Harvey’s building on the corner of Tontine Street and Old Hall Street.
A booklet telling the stories of some of the selected faces will also be produced.
Bid chairman Councillor Abi Brown, deputy leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “We wanted to commission a piece of art that would be in the city centre and would encapsulate the city and its people.
“It has been fantastic to meet Jozef and find out about him and his connection with the city.”
People can visit faceofsot2021.com/the-face from Thursday for a digital version of the image, with the chance to zoom in to individual photos and spot people they know."