Author: Brisbane Street Art Festival

Wellborn is an indigenous Ngarabal/Celtic artist, culture and expression are an integral part of who he is.

The name Wellborn comes from his father’s Welsh heritage and means firstborn son and young warrior. It is also another way of saying his birth name.

Self-taught Wellborn comes from humble beginnings. From an isolated and small country town Wellborn and his craft were something that clearly developed over time, with every endeavor only bringing him closer to his goal, of self-discovery and connection. Most of his life expression has been his shield yet through music and Visual arts have grown into an element used for connection rather than isolation. Wellborn strives to convey how he sees reality and the effects of colonialism on his country and his culture.

“Whether you see tragedy or beauty in my work all depends on the individual.”

Loretta Lizzio is a painter, illustrator, photographer and all-around creative artist whose work adorns walls and galleries throughout Australia and beyond. She has been creating and making art ever since she can remember, but after a life-changing accident and adjusting to motherhood, she has learnt to draw on her experiences, both good and bad, as inspiration for her artistic pursuits. Loretta’s ethereal works capture the viewer’s imagination with their intimate nature, passionate colour and detail.

JESWRI (pron. Jess-Rye) is a contemporary multifaceted Gadigal artist of the Eora Nation. Born and raised in Sydney; now living in Naarm. He’s known for his large-scale street art & exciting brand collaborations such as Apple, Netflix, Kia, Dell, Converse, Adidas, Playstation and most recently became co-founded the fastest sell-out NFT project in Australia, ‘Keyboard Warriors Internet Care’ – 8888 individual artworks sold out in 30 seconds.

Before devoting his practice to art; JESWRI lived as a graffiti writer, designer and commercial art director but now currently running and operating one of Melbourne’s most exciting new art galleries; ‘Honey Bones Gallery’ as well as co-founding an artist focussed advertising agency, ‘Wall Lords’ where they partner with/mentor emerging artists to install painted advertisements for big name clients across 3 major cities, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

Jess is currently working on his 4th gallery exhibition supported by Creative VIC, where he opens the dialogue about mental health and the effects of trauma across generations. The show is entitled ‘Dancing In The Dark’.

Sarge Jhorgenson is a Brisbane based multidisciplinary artist,
author and poet. His paintings and murals are bright, bold and
colourful, often depicting stylised coastal landscapes or bushland
scenes that reflect Queensland’s unique flora. With an
impressive oeuvre spanning over twenty-five years, he has
exhibited in several countries and had many successful solo
shows and group exhibitions. ‘Art keeps me grounded and
quietens the noise’

Lisa Tran Kelly (The Moon Gallery) is a multidisciplinary artist currently practising in Meanjin. Lisa has a focus on creating reflective and immersive art projects that explore human relationships with nature, themselves and others. With a deep understanding of the emotions and dynamics that shape our connection to others, Lisa seeks to create emotionally resonant works that explore experiences of our internal worlds.

She has delivered murals for Brisbane Street Art Festival, Brisbane Canvas, Brisbane City Council, exhibited studio work throughout Australia and curated numerous charity art events.

Phoebe Paradise is a self-taught multidisciplinary artist, musician and designer based in Meanjin, Brisbane, producing illustrations, textiles, murals and public art installations. In her early career, Phoebe’s graphic lexicon developed quickly via a consistent output of punk flyers and merch for bands around Australia. Soon after, she began experimenting with textile designs, creating capsule collections for Paradise Shop. A boutique, gallery and DIY venue in Fortitude Valley, it was owned and managed by Paradise between 2017–2019, garnering a strong fanbase both locally and internationally. While the brick and mortar shop has ceased since, its online counterpart lives on. 

Phoebe’s practice explores the everyday poetics of her hometown’s multiple identities through aesthetics that at once point to its gothic sublimity and sunshine poptimism. Most recently, the artist has been developing work that examines the various incongruous architectures of Brisbane as a mode through which to recount its myriad histories. Notable recent works and exhibitions include the animated video Subtropical Surreal (2020), acquired by Brisbane City Council’s Public Art Collection; the group exhibition Disintegration (2022), Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville; and the Paddington Terraces Kooka! Trail public art project (2022). Phoebe’s debut solo exhibition Sunburnt in the Suburbs came to close in February 2023 after a successful 3 month stint at Pine Rivers Art Gallery in the Moreton Bay Region.

Rawkus Aka Daniel Jones (B.1992) is a Torres Strait Islander man whose family and head hunter ancestors stem from Masig island (Yorke Island).
Rawkus is a contemporary street artist based in Meanjin (Brisbane). Specialising in naturalism and realism, pushing awareness through his medium with a strong connection to culture, inspired by nature and the mystery of life.
With strong roots in graffiti, his practice was propagated in the exploration and manipulation of public space. Now utilising the medium to carry his realist style into the public realm. Over a decade of experience in aerosol and brushwork.
Daniel has created and delivered products such as large murals, and private artworks and continues to do so when he gets the opportunity. PEACE & LOVE

Tommy is a Brisbane based emerging artist. His practice has seen him exhibiting at
many Brisbane and Gold Coast venues in the last five years both as a collaborative
and solo artist, through multiple orgs including, including AFTM, Access Arts, and Footprints.
The creative process, human connection and community participation are at the core of
Tommy’s drive to explore, share and validate his creative experiences.
Layered references to nature, community and spirituality are recurring themes
throughout his work. From delicate naive depictions of daily minutiae to bold colours
and abstract landscapes, Tommy maintains a connection to self and place.

Taneal is a Registered Nurse and contemporary abstract artist from Brisbane,
inspired heavily by the earth and the forever dramatic difference and beauty
between the lands. Art provides Taneal with a therapeutic and creative outlet from
daily stressors, and her forever-growing and versatile style changes to reflect her
mood and spirit. Taneal is a firm believer in the power of creative therapies, using art
as her own personal outlet, she hopes to help shift modern medicine/interventions
to a more therapeutic approach by continuing to advocate and run her non-profit
project for youth battling cancer ‘Operation: Art’.

Local Brisbane dweller Darcie’s practice navigates the corners of one’s brain, expressing emotions and reflecting on the poignant aspect of change, identity and nostalgia. The artist works collaboratively with materials ranging from paint, pencil, collage, digital, installation and more, relying on an intuitive process to create. Through these means, Darcie investigates the human condition and social constructs, drawing parallels between the personal and collective experience. This occurs through the phlegmatic lens of a 23-year-old pessimist. While diverse in medium and media, the artists practice is continuously grounded by the pursuit for authentic self-expression.