“It is a huge honour to be painted by London artist Tia Mirza."
A portrait of London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, created by an art student, has been unveiled at London City Hall to mark his 10th year in office.
The artwork was created by Tia Mirza, a graduating BA (Hons) Fine Art student at Arts University Bournemouth (AUB), as part of her final university project. It was officially unveiled on July 16, 2026.
The unveiling coincided with South Asian Heritage Month and celebrates Sir Sadiq’s decade as Mayor of London.
The portrait depicts the Mayor on the side of a classic London bus, which is painted in the red, white and blue of the Union Jack.
The concept is a nod to Sir Sadiq’s background, growing up in Tooting as the son of a bus driver.
Sir Sadiq Khan said: “It is a huge honour to be painted by London artist Tia Mirza.
“It marks a significant milestone as I reflect on 10 years as Mayor of London.
“To mark this moment during South Asian Heritage Month makes it extra special, as we celebrate the major contribution South Asian communities make to our incredible city.”
Mirza presented the portrait to the Mayor during the ceremony at City Hall.
She explained the inspiration behind the artwork, telling the Mayor:
“It is such a privilege to be able to present this painting to you.
“Rather than depicting you in a traditional political setting, I chose to paint your portrait on the side of a London bus, inspired by your personal connection through your father’s work as a London bus driver and how much you’ve done for London transport.
“Sharing a British Asian background, I was also inspired by your views on identity and belonging.”
The project began a year earlier when Mirza, who hopes to pursue a career as a commission-based realism artist, noticed there was no official portrait marking the Mayor’s milestone in office.
She later secured a photography sitting with Sir Sadiq at City Hall in October 2025.
Using that session as the foundation for her work, Mirza developed the portrait to capture what she described as the Mayor’s warmth and determination.
Jonathan Carr, Pro Vice-Chancellor at AUB, attended the unveiling alongside Mirza’s family.
He praised the graduate’s achievement, saying:
“Tia’s achievement represents the absolute pinnacle of what we encourage our students to aim for at AUB.”
“To see an undergraduate student demonstrate this level of creative vision, professional persistence, and technical mastery is exceptional.
“Securing a sitting with a figure as prominent as the Mayor of London for a final-year project is unprecedented, and the resulting portrait is a masterful testament to traditional realism.
“We are incredibly proud to celebrate this milestone moment with Tia today.”
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