by Lauren Hunter
Mon 13 October 2025 13:44, UK
Kate Bush has launched an appeal to support the charity War Child, prompting artists to create works based on the lyrics of her seminal hit ‘Running Up That Hill’.
The singer has invited 52 visual artists to respond to the lyric: “If I only could, I’d make a deal with God” from the iconic 1985 tune, with the pieces to be sold at auction beginning at the end of this month, to support the charity, which provides aid to children trapped in conflict zones.
Announcing the project – titled Sound and Vision, named after the David Bowie hit – in a statement, Bush said (via The Guardian): “All wars leave horrific scars; ruined lives, families ripped apart, life-changing injuries, trauma, and loss on a massive scale – but it’s the children who suffer the most in so many ways. Their past, present and future melt away into fear and uncertainty.”
She added: “It is more important than ever we support War Child and their invaluable work providing immediate aid to children caught in conflict all over the world including in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan and Syria. Projects like Sound and Vision harness the power of art and music to make a real difference to children living through war.”
Two of the most prolific artists to contribute to the collection include Maggi Hambling, whose piece is titled ‘Midnight Wave’, and Peter Doig, who has commissioned two pieces named ‘The Hill’ and ‘Child of War’.
All the works in the Sound and Vision collection will feature in an online auction running from October 28th until November 13th, with starting bids for each piece beginning at £100.
They will also go on display as part of an exhibition at the Iconic Images Gallery in Piccadilly, London, from November 4th to 8th. The online auction for the Sound and Vision collection can be found here.
