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Street art isn’t just about paint on walls. It’s a real, uncensored conversation between a city and its people. We’re lucky enough to have a vibing scene here in Melbourne, but if you head up north to Benalla you’ll find they don’t just celebrate street art culture - they throw a full blown party for it.
Welcome to Victoria’s Rural Street Art Capital, where over 85 massive murals already cover the CBD and surrounding towns, turning the entire region into an open-air gallery.
And every year, Benalla ups the ante with its Street Art Festival, inviting artists from across the country to leave their mark on the town. This year, 10 new large-scale murals will be added to the mix, meaning even more of the buildings and laneways will be converted into masterpieces.
The festival will run over three days from 11 - 13 April and is completely free for visitors to come along and watch as renowned artists literally paint the town (red, and probably a lot of other colours as well).
Big names like Matt Adnate, Aurora Campbell and Claire Foxton are on the lineup this year. You can learn more about them and the other artists that will be gracing the festival down below.
If you think you’ve got something to add to the mix, expressions of interest are also now open to host a fringe event as part of the 2025 Benalla Street Art Festival.
Benalla Street Art Festival Artists
Matt Adnate
Image: Mural by Matt Adnate | Supplied
Matt Adnate’s stunning artworks are born from a want to inspire social change, especially when it comes to Indigenous land rights and cultural preservation. His larger-than-life portraits of Indigenous individuals shine a light on culture, heritage and social justice. And his impact and talent haven’t gone unnoticed. He’s won multiple awards including the 2024 Archibald Packing Room Prize and the 2022 ARIA for Best Cover Art for Baker Boy’s album ‘Gela’.
Aurora Campbell
With themes of vulnerability, transformation and human connection, combined with her bold, high-contrast palettes, Aurora Campbell’s art is impossible to ignore. Think lush botanicals, flowing organic forms and symbolic imagery. Her Benalla mural is sure to brighten up the town and invoke some serious feels.
Claire Foxton
Image: Mural by Claire Foxton | Supplied
Claire Foxton is all about playful, striking murals that blend abstract elements with mind-blowingly realistic portraits. She’s painted walls across Australia, New Zealand, and the US, using a mix of digital and analogue techniques to create immersive, layered designs. Whatever she’s got planned for Benalla, it’s going to be bold.
Creature Creature
Melbourne duo Chanel Tang and Ambrose Rehorek are the forces behind Creature Creature. Their combined style is a union of Asian aesthetics, Western perspective and intricate storytelling which they use to explore concepts like duality, balance and interconnectedness. The result is seriously beautiful, intricate and thought-provoking artworks.
Drez
Drawing from a fusion of graffiti and formal education, Drez’s work somehow feels both chaotic and controlled. Think vibrant colours and sharp lines. His freehand geometry and hand-mixed colours will spark your imagination and bring some beautiful vibrancy to Benalla.
Gus Leunig
Gus Leunig loves the natural environment (especially that of the north eastern Victorian countryside where he lives) and it absolutely shows in his art. His works feature quirky figures which occupy whimsical worlds. It’s colourful, unexpected, imaginative and you won’t want to drag your gaze away.
HWJ
Image: HWJ | Supplied
Known for his striking use of colour, intricate details, and thought-provoking designs, HWJ uses a style of abstract typography to create artworks that are dazzling and all-encompassing. His pieces explore themes of identity, power dynamics and the surreal nature of modern life.
David ‘MEGGS’ Hooke
With over 20 years experience in creating dynamic large-scale works, there’s no doubt MEGGS’ Benalla mural will pack a punch. Think urban decay and natural landscapes with bold colours. Inspired by his travels and life experiences, MEGGS’ art explores themes of constant movement and the duality of consumerism versus sustainability.
Spencer Harrison
Spencer Harrison’s geometric abstractions explore the tension between order and chaos, minimalism and maximalism. He creates dynamic compositions that reflect the world around us. Drawing inspiration from architecture, technology, and design, his murals are musings on how we interact with our built environment.
Yan Yan Candy Ng
Image: Mural by Yan Yan Candy Ng | Supplied
Yan Yan Candy Ng’s vibrant murals bring playful energy to public spaces, using bold colours, whimsical figures, and natural elements to create uplifting, community-focused art. From Melbourne to San Francisco to Denmark, she’s turned blank walls into displays of happiness. Whether it’s a 55-metre masterpiece at Urban Canvas Mural Festival or a small-scale community project, Candy’s art makes spaces feel alive.
More to come...
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