A guide to Perth's most colourful street art

Whether its a dreary grey wall, brown brickwork or dull dark laneway, the transformation that takes place as soon as an artists take to it with their brush (or spray can) is nothing short of remarkable. Not only does it revive the space and give it a whole new ambience, but an injection of colour is sure to put smiles on the faces of passers by. 

So if you’re keen to explore the vibrancy of our city, here is your guide to some of Perth’s most colourful street art and the people behind it. 

Anya Brock - Perth CBD and Northbridge

If you’re going to talk about colour, then you should probably start with Anya Brock - a WA local who has become somewhat of an Aussie art icon. Born in Alfred Cove, Anya initially started out in fashion, before realising the industry wasn’t for her and returned to her artistic roots in painting and drawing. She quickly gained notoriety in the Australian art scene with her bright and bold artwork, mostly of faces, animals and geometric patterns. When her 10-foot tall budgie mural was featured in the New York Times, Anya’s star rose, and now her colourful, spirited work can be seen splashed across walls in LA, Sydney and Melbourne - and of course in her hometown of Perth. You can see it on Roe St in Northbridge behind Paramount nightclub, in the carpark of Wolf Lane in the CBD, on the side of Toni & Guy hair salon on Murray Street, and on the facade of Etro Cafe on King Street.

Tim Phibbs, Perth CBD

Tim Phibs is arguably one of the most respected and renowned names in the Australian graffiti and street art scene, with his work managing to make even the dullest of laneways bright and exciting. His iconic public art works can be found in Melbourne, Sydney as well as overseas, and has painted so many walls in Melbourne’s Fitzroy area that he has become affectionately dubbed ‘Phibsroy’. Perth is lucky enough to have several Phibs artworks all over its CBD, which are largely inspired by nature and are eye-poppingly colourful and vibrant. You can check them out  in the laneway next to Head Studio on King Street, at 242 Murray Street, down the side alley next the Ibis Hotel on Murray Street, and within the one40william precinct..

Drew Straker, Perth CBD

If you’ve ever walked past a piece of street art that looks like glowing neon, its probably a Drew Straker piece. Straker is a WA local, and has developed a distinctive style whereby his murals appear to illuminate streets like neon signs. He creates them using only spray paint and a ‘neon glow’ technique of white lines under a transparent colour. This unique style has made him one of WA’s most popular street artists, with his work in hundreds of locations all over the State. You can check out some of his glowing pieces in the city of Perth at 97 and 144 Murray Street, 189 William Street, and Pier Street.

Clare McFarlane, Prince Lane, Perth

Clare McFarlane was born in the small country town of Kojonup, but has lived in Perth since 1990 and gone onto hold many solo art exhibitions in Perth and Melbourne. You can see her work by visiting this colourful public art she created in Perth’s city’s Prince Lane that lights up the laneway. It was inspired by the King Street precinct’s rich history and strong connection to the fashion industry, and almost gives the illusion of vibrant wallpaper over the laneway’s brickwork.

Maya Hayuk, Wesley Centre in Wolf Lane, Perth

This commanding patchwork mural was created by New York artist Maya Hayuk, one of the most prominent and respected names in street art. Hayuk has  iconic outdoor murals all over the world, holds several teaching fellowships in the United States, and was not long ago invited to paint the prestigious Bowery Hall in Manhattan. She was commissioned to create this vibrant, psychedelic mural for the Perth PUBLIC FORM event at the back of Wesley Quarter, which features her signature symmetrical compositions, intricate patterns, and bold colours.

A bit about the writer - Kirsty Petrides is a freelance writer based in Perth. Born and bred in WA, her three great loves are her dog, dark chocolate and a big bold shiraz. When she isn't spending her spare time writing about food, wine and travel, you'll find her buried in a great book.