London celebrates creative rockstars in new showcase

By Danielle Reed 17/07/2026 3 min read 34 views

Hassan Hajjaj’s latest show, My London Rockstars, Ends to Estates, opens at Sotheby’s London and runs through 7 August, offering a vivid portrait of the city’s emerging creative talent.

From Camden stalls to Sotheby’s halls

The Moroccan-born creator arrived in London at age 12, unable to speak English and leaving school without qualifications. He built a reputation selling vintage clothing in Camden Market and promoting underground club nights before opening the Covent Garden boutique R.A.P. (Real Artistic People). By the 1990s he turned to photography, blending North African street culture with pop‑art sensibilities, fashion photography and African studio portraiture. His distinctive style now appears in major collections, including the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.

For the new exhibition, Hajjaj has transformed Sotheby’s Story Café into a space saturated with his signature bright hues, clashing prints and bold textiles. The gallery’s walls are lined with photographs that feature subjects dressed in head‑to‑toe outfits often drawn from his own wardrobe. The visual language is unmistakable, instantly recognizable as his, and it carries a sense of joy and character that refuses to stay confined to a single discipline.

Celebrating the city’s own “rockstars”

At the core of the show is community. The portraits do not showcase widely known celebrities; instead, they highlight friends, collaborators and peers who the artist regards as his personal “rockstars.” Among the featured figures are rapper Central Cee, singer Joy Crookes, fashion designer Clint 419 and visual artist Slawn. Each moves fluidly between music, fashion and art, embodying the cross‑disciplinary spirit that has defined his career for decades.

These images suggest that fashion, photography and design become more compelling when they intersect rather than operate in isolation. The exhibition thus serves as both a tribute to London’s cultural scene and a statement about the power of collaboration across creative fields.

From a practical standpoint, the show offers an accessible entry point for visitors unfamiliar with earlier work. By situating the exhibition within a historic British institution, the creator highlights how London’s street‑level energy can be framed alongside high‑culture venues, a juxtaposition that feels both unexpected and oddly fitting.

While the exhibition is presented in partnership with Vigo Gallery, all works on display are available for purchase through the gallery’s channels.

In everyday terms, the show means that the people shaping London’s visual culture—whether they’re on a stage, a runway or a studio wall—gain a platform that might otherwise be out of reach. It brings their stories into a space traditionally reserved for established masters, potentially opening doors for future collaborations and wider recognition.

Hajjaj now lives full‑time in Morocco and is sometimes called the “Andy Warhol of Marrakech,” a label that reflects his singular aesthetic rather than any direct lineage. His return to Britain to occupy one of its oldest cultural venues feels like a full‑circle moment, linking early days handling the city’s underground scenes with current status as an internationally recognized artist.

The exhibition will remain at Sotheby’s until early August, giving both locals and visitors a chance to experience the lively, community‑focused vision that he brings to the London art scene.

It is a rare opportunity.