Inspiration

A Playful Re-imagining of KFC Ads

Lisa Maltby reimagines a KFC ad in Vienna with a witty nod to classical painting.

Creative Gaga, Lisa Maltby

There’s something powerful about re-seeing everyday things through a fresh lens - Lisa Maltby’s latest self-initiated project, KFC St Stephen’s Cathedral Advertisement, does just that. On a recent visit to Vienna, she spotted an ad by KFC plastered against the gothic grandeur of St Stephen’s Cathedral and had one of those creative lightbulb moments: what if the ad reflected the richness of its surroundings rather than looking out of place?

Inspired by The Circle of Life by Viennese painter Hans Canon - especially the ornate, storytelling quality of its traditional figures - Lisa created a reinterpretation of that KFC ad. In her version, regal classical figures are gathered in a renaissance-style tableau, but with a twist: they’re eating KFC chicken nuggets. The juxtaposition is cheeky, warm, and totally delightful, lending humour and humanity to a space that felt visually disconnected.

What makes this special goes beyond mere novelty. It involves utilising the existing culture and environment - the architectural grandeur, history, and aesthetic significance - to foster engagement. Lisa isn’t simply creating beautiful art; she’s encouraging double takes, smiles, and reflections on what “advertising” can be when it respects its context.

Original KFC advert: "Kein Fake Chicken" (No fake chicken) and "original nuggets" on the side of the St Stephen’s Cathedral.
Inspiration: Hans Canon was an Austrian painter known for his work, Circle of Life, which is located on the ceiling of the Natural History Museum in Vienna.

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