If you’re looking for something free and interesting to do in the city, go on a walking tour and experience street art in Brisbane. You might be surprised just how incredible some of Brisbane’s artists are (I certainly was!). Additionally, searching for art in Brisbane will take you down alleys and pockets of the city you’ve probably never been to, and it makes for a fun morning or afternoon.
The Playground Art Trail
So how do you find street art in Brisbane? Of course you could just wander about the city and enjoy whatever you see, but this isn’t efficient and you’ll probably be walking a lot to see a little. I recommend following the outdoor gallery called ‘Playground’, as it covers a decent-sized area (but not too big).
You can access the map of Playground here. The best part about this route is you can choose your own adventure – bypass the art you don’t find so interesting and enjoy numerous other pieces along the way, as the route appears to follow a bit of an ‘art trail’. The exhibition also regularly changes, so you’ll likely have a different adventure to mine. I’ve listed the artwork here in order for walking efficiency.
My Favourite Street Art in Brisbane
Waninti Matjurru
I started in Griffin Lane with this artwork by Arkie the Label. What I enjoyed about this is I’ve never been to Griffin Lane before and it’s in a little network of alleys that gave me a different insight into Brisbane. I also loved viewing this art in the context of the street. I felt this juxtaposed traditional Aboriginal culture’s relationship with modernity.
Don’t worry, I’m not going on a big subjective art rant in this post, I just really loved the environmental context of this piece. Actually, this was hands down my favourite thing about this whole trail, as the locations are frames for the art. I would love to chat with the artists about how they adapted their art to the locations.
Tuesday Night
This interesting piece by artist Maxim Chikanchi is about the way we spend our leisure time, and a reminder to cherish it while balancing the societal pressures we all face. There are also some curious little patterns on the road just beneath the piece and I love where this sits. The context really got me thinking about framing these pieces. I can make art with their art! (Maybe).
Retrospect (left) and Emergence (right)
Whimsical context and artwork here by Loretta Lizzio, who features again later on. She is generally inspired by nature and the human interaction with it, which explores a number of themes. This little scene definitely put a smile on my face and made me think about things, although I can’t remember what they were….
Self Isolation
This gorgeous piece by artist Gus Eagleton isn’t on the Playground trail, although you’ll find it covering the Supernova building at 62 Mary Street. I love how this piece sprawls across a vertically oriented building, showing a girl staring at her phone while reflecting on self-isolation, which of course we can all relate to.
King George Square Car Park
I enjoyed exploring this area as I’d never been here before. Even though I didn’t find the piece by Kelsey Doyle ‘in Bloom’ particularly interesting, I did like its context. I also found some nice street art in the car park and left by a back entrance – a good little side adventure with some bonus points thrown in.
Flowers
You’ll find this curious little piece on Anne Street, and this is definitely an example where the context lifts the piece considerably. The environment here is most certainly on display in this piece and goes hand in hand with the artwork. A nice frame.
Also, Just a few doors down I discovered ‘Heritage Lanes’, which I’d never seen before. There’s even a Malt Traders here (a great spot for lovers of a good tipple). The alley was closed though when I was here on a Sunday, so I’ll most certainly be back!
Fish Lane
From here I wandered over the Bridge and into South Brisbane’s Fish Lane, which is a well-known tourist spot with some great drawcards. Firstly, there are lots of good restaurants and bars, but besides that, there are the Playground ‘light boxes’ you’ll see on the wall and it’s most certainly a hot spot for other works of art. Most of the art from here on in has nothing to do with Playground.
Head in the Clouds
Keep wandering down Fish Lane until you get to Hope Street and you’ll be dazzled with some quality artwork in quick succession. The first of these is Head in the Clouds by artist Fintan Magee, which to my mind is incredible. He mixes surreal imagery with the urban environment and explores themes of waste and nature, and he’s often influenced by children’s books.
Sunshine of Your Love
Turn around and you’ll see this piece by Samuel Tupou, inspired by the 1967 Cream song ‘Sunshine of Your Love’. I recommend staring at this for a minute while listening to the song and reflecting that you’re in Queensland. You’re now a pineapple head and birds occasionally shoot lasers out of their mouths.
Adrift
Jump back on Fish Lane and just a wee bit further down you couldn’t miss this remarkable piece by Loretta Lizzio, the artist of Retrospect and Emergency above. The piece explores humanity’s relationship with nature and the future in which our planet is headed. Loss, change, nature, nostalgia and romanticism are captured in this piece. I haven’t done such a great job of capturing this, as there’s quite a bit more to it when you’re there. Beautiful.
Fleeting Happiness and The Red Crowned Crane
I loved the framing of these last two pieces – which are the last on the Playground trail – by Yin Lu, put together in what looks like a room divider/window. The contrast with the black background and the texture of the wooden frame and the wall really pop this piece out onto the street.
That’s a wrap
This little tour covers the centre of the CBD and goes into South Brisbane, finishing just at the top of the West End. You could do this in a couple of hours and enjoy some food in the West End at your conclusion, or do it in reverse. Again, one of the things I really loved above viewing these gorgeous pieces was the outdoor gallery – context, and natural frames that tell us even more about the art and the artists that brought these works to life.
Street art in Brisbane is alive and well.
Enjoy!
