Originally from the South Coast of NSW, Smug has called Scotland home for 20 years.

An internationally renowned artist known for his realistic large-scale mural installations Smug takes inspiration from people and nature, exploring the harmony in the relationship between the two. With his trademark understanding of light and shadow Smug’s painting can often juxtapose themes together such as death, playfulness, melancholy and unadulterated joy.

Whilst his technique stays true to his foundation with traditional graffiti Smug’s murals can be seen as “stylized realism” with hyper realistic elements achieved freehand, primarily with spray paint.

Originally from Colombia and currently working in Australia, Katherine Gailer (also known as KATIRA) creates visual narratives exploring characters, our natural environment, magical realism, cultural identity and spaces of contemporary design. She graduated with honours from a Bachelor of Fine Arts and completed an Arts Management Masters Degree– both at RMIT University. Her practice incorporates mural painting, oil painting, illustration, design and music.

Her creative expression underscores a main theme that looks at the complex relationship between fragility and strength, vulnerability and empowerment. It celebrates resilience and liberation and clamours for an urgent need to restore the invisible fabric that weaves together humans and nature.

Her artworks reclaim the space for diverse communities in art and can also be interpreted as a series of confronting tensions to articulate the essence of the Feminine as a force of relatedness in our world today. Rediscovering a sense of the sacred and revisiting our ancient past embody the driving force for the development of her artworks.

Bernhard Suryaningrat, also known as Hardthirteen, is a graffiti artist who is known for his unique style and innovative approach to graffiti art. He first rose to prominence in the graffiti art scene for his bold and daring works which often incorporated bright colors and intricate patterns, and through Nevertoolavish, a company dedicated to providing its customers with the finest luxury products and services. Whether you are looking for the latest fashion trends, high-quality jewelry, or the perfect home décor item, NevertooLavish has what you need to elevate your luxury lifestyle.

Despite his success, he remains dedicated to pushing the boundaries of the art form and continues to experiment with new techniques and materials. His works inspire other graffiti artists in Indonesia and continue to captivate audiences with their energy and creativity.

Russell Fenn, better known as Sofles, is an Australian graffiti artist originating from Brisbane. Self-taught, he has been honing his skills for over 20 years, exploring various mediums such as spraypaint, acrylic, drawing and brush painting, as well as digital and illustration works. Sofles’ large scale murals have taken him around the world ten times over and now grace many of the world’s largest cities, including Berlin, Copenhagen, Oslo, Las Vegas, and LA.

Sofles has a clear goal with his art; he aims to create strong images that evoke emotions in people. “I believe art should be an important part of the city landscape. I want to create public art for people to enjoy, to transform spaces”, he says. Drawing inspiration from nature, society, graffiti and traditional art, his work focuses on the ideas of time, dimensions, and an abstract mix of past experiences.

Many have been in awe whilst watching Sofles create artworks in real time. His preferred way to paint is to do so freely, with no sketch or preprepared plan. When one sees his vision transform from his mind to the wall or canvas, it is clear that he has an incredible imagination and expert skills and technique with his “tools”, be it a spray can, a brush or digital stylus. He explains, “Some graffiti pieces are painted with scrap paint and no plan. Others are large-scale, thoroughly planned artworks. My favourite process is to create large and detailed artworks in a free and unrestricted manor.”

Known by the artist name Heesco®, Khosnaran Khurelbaatar is a Mongolian-Australian muralist and fine artist.

Born in 1979 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Heesco moved to Australia in 1999. He graduated Sydney College of the Arts with a Bachelor of Visual Arts degree in 2005. Heesco relocated to Melbourne in 2010, where he has established himself as one of the leading contemporary mural artists.

In 2020 Heesco was commissioned by the residents of Yarram, VIC, to create a series of murals to garner visitors into the small town, in a project known as “Heesco Town”, which got national and international media attention, and was awarded “Best Street Art Trail”. Currently there are 22 murals by Heesco in Yarram. (Watch the ABC News coverage of Heesco Town here).

The same year Heesco was commissioned by Her Excellency the Governor of Victoria to create a mural expressing gratitude towards the frontline workers during the catastrophic bushfires and the COVID19 pandemic. The Governor subsequently has donated the mural to Yarram where it is on permanent display at the Memorial Garden (watch news coverage here).

Heesco is currently Australia’s most prolific silo artist to date, with 5 silos and a water tower to his name. His silo artwork in Karoonda, SA, was recognised as the “Best of the Best” and “Best Mega Mural” in the annual Australian Street Art Awards. Heesco’s Weethalle silo art was featured on limited edition stamps by Australia Post in 2018, which featured first silos painted in each state.

Mistery is one of Australia’s most legendary and influential writers.  For over 20 years, he’s been representing the Hip-Hop culture through breaking, graffiti, and as an emcee.  Having started out as a B-boy in the early 1980s, his signature style and iconic B-boy characters are recognised all over the world–a true reflection of his roots in Hip-Hop.

Today, Mistery continues to share his love for Hip-Hop culture with others, touring cities and countries abroad as a B-boy, martial artist, Christian minister, emcee, and writer.

María Peña is a Colombian/Australian visual artist currently based in Melbourne.  She studied Bachelor of Fine Arts with major in painting and ceramics at the Art School Academia Superior de Artes de Bogotá and Doctorate of Fine Arts by research at RMIT University, School of Art in Melbourne. Her career has developed between Australia and Colombia through solo and collective shows, artist in residency programs and mural projects. Up to now she has participated in solo and collective shows in Colombia, Australia, Mexico, China, Italy, India, Argentina, New York and the United Arab Emirates.

Peña’s Art and collaborative projects have represented Australia more than once overseas: Selected by MC Gallery and Res-artiste exhibition “Show your World” to represent Australia in NY, 2018; Selected by BienalSur international Contemporary Biennial of Buenos Aires with Ventana Collective 2017; invited to make part of the Collateral Projects of the Art Biennial kochi muzaris, India, 2015; awarded one of the winners for the 2017 Endeavour Award Vitrina de Arte acknowledged by the Alzate Avendaño Foundation and Ministry of Culture in Bogotá. Colombia; and sponsored by Abu Dhabi Art Hub, to represent Australia for the Australian Art Month in Abu Dhabi, UAE 2013.

Maria Peña’s art has a strong influence from sub-realism and magical realism ideas as well as referents from visual and cultural theory. She draws her inspiration from people, emotions and nature with the intention to evoke hope. She feels inspired by diversity of skin colour, languages and cultures and try to depict these elements into her art.

Based in Melbourne Australia, Hayden Dewar is Muralist & painter whose work shifts between client directed projects and his more imaginative personal work.

The latter is an ongoing series of work that draws inspiration from native Australian flora and fauna, mythical imagery and the human condition to create a surreal, metaphysical world full of adventure, myth and symbolism.

Projects include council and privately commissioned murals freelance illustration work (ranging from album covers to storyboards and anything in between), and creating paintings for solo & group exhibitions.

Hayden has also had 3 years experience teaching illustration & design in Tafe and runs mural and art workshops.

Hayden is passionate about transforming and enhancing public spaces through mural art and thrives on the positivity and public engagement that results from letting his creativity off the leash to roam around the urban environment.

I was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and emigrated to Norway as a teenager. I arrived in Australia for a holiday in 2015 and have called Melbourne home ever since.

I am a proudly self-taught artist. I first picked up a brush in 2018 and just found my own way. At first, I wanted to recreate the traditional Ethiopian Orthodox church art I remembered from my childhood. As I continued, I found that art connected me strongly with my culture and allowed me to communicate my experiences. Art allows me to express my identity and what’s important to me. It has given me a sense of home.

I mostly work with recycled timber and found materials, using acrylic, oil and pastel from my small studio in Thornbury, Melbourne. My practice also involves illustration and large-scale mural works as well as teaching art to kids in schools and from CALD backgrounds.

Hello, my name is Abbey Rich and I am a public and exhibiting artist based on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation in Naarm, Melbourne. My work predominantly looks at gender and environment, with a particular interest in accessible and community co-designed public art making. I have created over 40 mural works across the country and have spent the past year developing sculptural works and concepts ready for public space.