A new design for the London Underground pocket Tube map has been revealed, created by acclaimed conceptual artist Agnes Denes. The artwork, which reimagines the globe in a glowing, distorted form, will be available for free at all TfL stations from early July.
The design, titled Map Projections, is part of Transport for London’s Art on the Underground programme and marks the 41st cover of the iconic foldable map. Posters previewing the design are already on display across the Tube network.
Denes’s work projects a section of the globe onto a cube instead of a sphere, using a method called isometric projection. The piece is part of a wider series that dates back to the 1970s, where Denes created various interpretations of the earth’s shape, including The Hotdog, The Pyramid and The Snail.
The glowing, electric lines of the new map echo the way the traditional Tube map simplifies London’s complex transport system into a clear diagram.
Eleanor Pinfield, Head of Art on the Underground, said: “Denes uses Map Projections to reimagine the earth and the place of humans on it. Here, taking on the cover of the Pocket Tube map, her projection reimagines our place in the city and will be used by millions of people as they navigate the urban environment. Her electrified map reminds us of the interconnectedness of all things – which makes up the beauty of our shared existence.”
Image – Agnes Denes Tube map-3 Credit: Map Projections, Agnes Denes, 2025, Photo: Benedict Johnson
Justine Simons OBE, Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries, said: “The pocket Tube map is much loved and a place to discover some of the world’s most important artists. Agnes Denes is no exception, it’s a real privilege to share this new commission with thousands of Londoners and visitors as they travel around London, bringing world class art into the everyday. A great addition to TfL and Art on the Underground’s pocket map their shared anniversary year, helping us build a better London for everyone.”
The artwork continues Denes’s long-standing focus on environmental and social themes. She is known for projects such as Wheatfield – A Confrontation, where she planted two acres of wheat in downtown Manhattan in 1982.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of both TfL and Art on the Underground. Other artists who have designed previous pocket maps include Rita Keegan, Joy Labinjo, Larry Achiampong and Phyllida Barlow.
Image – Agnes Denes Tube map poster 3 Credit: Map Projections, Agnes Denes, 2025, Photo: Benedict Johnson
More art projects are due to appear on the Underground network later this year, including a sound piece at Waterloo in July, a large-scale work at Stratford in September, and a new mural at Brixton in November.
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