Helch, the elusive graffiti artist whose enormous tags appeared across London and Windsor, has died, shocking the graffiti and artistic community.
His death was announced, prompting heartfelt tributes of 'Rest in Paint' from fellow artists. Helch had only just begun selling prints at a gallery.
Artist's impact and royal view
One particularly large Helch tag had to be removed from a railway viaduct near Windsor Castle recently, with the Queen reportedly 'upset' that it was spoiling the view of the royal residence.
Helch's real identity remains a mystery despite speculation over the years. The Helch phenomenon began in West London in September 2018, with a flurry of 'helches' appearing around Harrow, but since then has spread across the city.
Tributes from the community
A school friend of the elusive artist told Metro that as a young schoolboy in Hayes, west London, he was always tagging everything. He said: 'He made the name Helch when we were kids. He is a London legend but also 1,000% a Hayes one too.'
'Helch is just his graff name, we never got told what it means.'
The sad news of his death was revealed by BSMT space, an urban contemporary art gallery in Dalston, London.
Gallery's tribute
Paying tribute on Instagram, the gallery said: 'Receiving news today of the untimely passing of Helch has left us broken hearted. It felt like he stepped into our lives out of the ether.'
'Prompted by a moment of revelation standing outside of the American Carwash in Shoreditch- a triumph of roller graffiti and an East London landmark- I was so drawn to the enigma and mystery of the word I had to find out more.'
'It took six months to get him to agree to meet in person, and in 2022 we released his first print which sold out within the hour.'
'A stranger to the gallery world Helch was a true creature of the night, it's where he found his vocation and the gallery walls were not always what it was about for him. We often had to recalibrate what this meant as we worked together.'
