London graffiti artist Helch dies as art world pays tribute
The London helch artist Helch has died, East London gallery BSMT Space confirmed, prompting tributes from the art world and graffiti community across the UK. The elusive street artist was hailed as a world-class talent whose giant "Helch" and "H" tags on bridges, viaducts and rooftops became fixtures of Britain's urban landscape.
News of the death circulated on social media over the weekend. BSMT Space, an urban contemporary gallery in Dalston, described an "untimely passing" that left staff "broken hearted." The Evening Standard reported that Helch's death had not been confirmed on his official website at the time of writing.
Key Takeaways
- BSMT Space announced the death of graffiti artist Helch, whose real identity was never officially revealed.
- Helch gained fame in 2018 painting his tag on London landmarks and motorway bridges on the M1, M4 and M25.
- Galleries and fans praised him as a "roller king" and world-class artist who recently supported animal charities.
- His murals appeared from Sheffield and Manchester to a Windsor viaduct that reportedly upset Queen Elizabeth II.
- Social media tributes used the phrase "Rest in Paint" as the graffiti world mourned the loss.
Who Was the Helch Artist?
Helch was an anonymous graffiti writer best known for painting enormous block-letter tags, often using rollers in the dead of night. His identity was never officially confirmed, though the Daily Mail named him as Michael Purdy, 34, whose work featured in a sell-out show at BSMT in Dalston at the end of last year.
According to Metro, the Helch phenomenon began in West London in September 2018, with tags spreading from Harrow across the capital. A school friend told the outlet that Helch grew up in Hayes and created the name as a teenager, calling him "a London legend but also 1,000% a Hayes one too."
Why Did Helch's Work Draw Attention—and Anger?
Helch first came to wider public notice in 2018 by scaling bridges, viaducts and rooftops to paint his eponymous tag in capital letters. The mark sometimes appeared in stylised fonts and colours, or simply as a bold letter "H."
Not all reactions were admiring. In October 2018, motorists expressed anger when Helch replaced the longstanding "Give Peas A Chance" graffiti on the Chalfont Viaduct on the M25 with "Give Helch A Break." The Star noted that a huge tag on a railway viaduct in Windsor was said, in a Sun report, to have annoyed the late Queen Elizabeth II because it spoiled views of Windsor Castle; the mural was later removed.
Beyond London, Helch painted a mysterious "H" on the former Alexandra pub in Sheffield and a Kelham Island mural referencing Arctic Monkeys lyrics. He also left work in Manchester's Northern Quarter.
How Is the Art World Reacting to Helch's Death?
BSMT Space, which released Helch's first print in 2022—it sold out within an hour—posted an extended Instagram tribute calling him "a true creature of the night" whose work progressed "exponentially" in his final year. Alternative London wrote that "there will never be another like him again," noting he had recently donated a share of book sales to animal charities.
Fans on X described Helch as a "huge part of London's graffiti scene" and a "roller king." ArtistMeDea posted "RIP HELCH. Absolute King of the roller & the paint," while the graffiti community shared "Rest in Paint" messages online.
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