Author: Brisbane Street Art Festival

In 2023, Brisbane Street Art Festival is returning for its eighth year to showcase the abundant creative efforts of Brisbane and beyond. This year we are thrilled to be able to host over 40 creatives from across Australia as well as internationally.

The Festival Launch Party, held at Superordinary Northshore will mark the beginning of the festival’s program of events, exhibitions and showcases that will span across the following two weeks.

This opening night will also introduce several of the festival’s highlight exhibitions which BSAF will host in the coming weeks. BSAF will present ‘Still Here’, recognising and celebrating First Nations artists as they express culture and identity using a variety of mediums. The exhibition will showcase First Nations artists and the continuation of storytelling traditions within a modern world. 

BSAF 2023 will also welcome back the ‘Within These Walls’ Exhibition, opening up the inner circles of Brisbane’s street art scene to the broader Brisbane community through a multi-disciplinary exhibit spanning from mixed-media to paintings and more. 

BSAF are also thrilled to be introducing COGNITIVE DISSONANCE, a multi-sensory installation, performance and exhibition by Brisbane artists’ Jordache and Makeshift One. This immersive installation portrays two young men’s stories of recognising the traits of cognitive dissonance through paintings and spoken word. 

All exhibitions will be available for public viewing between 11am – 5pm weekends during the festival period.

Join the BSAF artists and community at Brisbane’s iconic riverside venue, Felons, to kick off the final weekend of BSAF 2023. On Saturday 20th May, BSAF will transform Felons Barrel Hall into a divine collaboration of visual and sonic pleasure, featuring the music and artworks of our incredible local creative scene. Also making a return on the night is Scribble Slam, an immersive and ephemeral art battle between two of the festival’s incredible artists, where you as the public get to choose who wins. Also an opportunity to try the official BSAF 2023  beer, designed and developed by the one and only Rosie Woods.

Join our artists and get ready to party at the BSAF closing event at Brisbane’s iconic riverside venue! Transforming the Felons Barrel Hall into a divine collaboration of visual and sonic pleasure, immerse yourself in the live music, performances and Scribble Slam – an exhilarating ephemeral art battle between two of the festival’s incredible artists, where you as the public get to choose who wins. With so much talent on display, you won’t want to miss a moment. Put on your dancing shoes and grab a beer – don’t miss the opportunity to try the limited release of the Official BSAF 2023 Beer, designed by the incredible Rosie Woods.

The heart and soul of hip-hop culture is breakin’ into South Bank Parklands on Saturday 13 May 2023 for Battles & Jam. Presented by Live at South Bank, in partnership with Brisbane Street Art Festival, the event will be held at the South Bank Piazza, which is set to become an electric battleground. Showcasing the time-honoured trifecta of hip-hop culture – rapping, street art and dance – boundary-pushing muralists, dancers and musicians will go head-to-head in an exciting line up.

Produced by Nfuze Events, get hyped as these high-powered and dynamic dancers bust a move showcasing their style, creativity, and freestyle skills in a 1 vs 1 Open Style dance battle – reacting to a range of tracks mixed by DJ Seb One (MOPTOP Family, SYD/HK) – creating freestyle magic as they move.

Fusing the energy and subversion that makes this counterculture movement so globally loved, the event also sees the return of the ever-popular Scribble Slam. Cheer on as two muralists (JESWRI VS KATHERINE VINEY) and street artists race each other and the clock in a live clash of colour and creativity in this high-intensity art challenge. Bounce to the rhythms and lyrical genius of acts like Tjaka, alongside beatboxers, emcees and deejays as they pump up the jams, spinning the freshest cuts throughout the night.

The battles kick off at 4:30pm and wrap at 9:30pm. And in true street style, it’s free! No tickets needed, just gather your crew and head to South Bank Parklands. For more information and the detailed program, check out liveatsouthbank.com.au.

Around the parklands during the day? Catch the roving dance cypher preselections from 1.30pm – 4pm and get amongst the energy before the dance battle finale at Battles & Jam.

This a free event! Please register for tickets below.

Scribble Slam returns as part of BSAF 2023; a series of head-to-head battles where artists have just 90 minutes to plan and execute their designs responding to a theme announced at the start of the timer. This year BSAF will be hosting five Scribble Slam events held at Superordinary Northshore, Southbank Piazza, Black Market (Albion) and the Howard Smith Wharves. Come along to watch this live street art event as some of our best national and international artists transform these spaces in under two hours.

SUPERORDINARY: ILLMA GORE VS JAMES ELLIS

Superordinary Northshore, Hamilton
Saturday 6th May, 6pm – 10pm

(Part of Festival Launch Party which is a ticketed event)

BATTLES & JAM: JESWRI VS ARINA APOSTOLOVA
Southbank Piazza, South Bank
Saturday 13th May, 4pm – 10pm

BAD: ALEJA HINE VS TORI-JAY MORDEY
The Black Market Albion, 37 Collingwood St, Albion

Friday 19th May, 5pm – 10pm

FELONS: VANCE VS JASMINE CRISP
Felons Barrel Hall, Howard Smith Wharves
Saturday 20th May, 6pm – 10pm