Jack Arts

Luster: Raven Leilani

As debut novels go, Raven Leilani’s Luster is a truly special one. Dripping with much-deserved praise, it’s a “painfully funny” portrait of what it means to be young in today’s world – navigating sexual and racial politics, it’s bold and intrepid, provocative and rousing, following Edie through questionable decisions and misadventures as she makes an “awkward slalom through modern life”.

To celebrate Luster’s paperback launch, we worked with Picador Books to announce its arrival on the streets of London. Taking over our Brixton Academy sites, street posters of the book’s cover were accompanied by a trio of beautiful, moving murals inspired by the story – by Claire Kaitesi, Lee Hybrid Desire and Carleen De Sözer – each totally unique and representational of the artists’ distinctive styles, yet united in their appreciation of and inspiration from Raven Leilani’s words. The campaign was a hit in the press, online and on the streets – appearing in The Bookseller, and much-loved by Raven herself.