Tribute and possible copycat Pam the Bird images painted across Melbourne

Tributes and possibly copycat images depicting a now-iconic graffiti image have been appearing as the alleged artist sits in jail.

Despite the apparent prime suspect behind the iconic Pam the Bird graffiti sitting in jail on remand, new paintings are appearing across Melbourne.

Last week, police announced they had arrested Jack Gibson-Burrell, seized abseiling gear and charged the 21-year-old with 50 offences.

The “Pam the Bird” image has attracted widespread media and social media attention, spotted on hard-to-reach buildings, highway signs, trains and buildings.

In the days since Mr Gibson-Burrell’s arrest, at least one obvious Pam the Bird tribute has popped up in a Melbourne laneway.

“Big week for Pam The Bird. A notorious genius or brazen vandal? My latest piece paying tribute,” a person posted online on Sunday. The post was accompanied by an image of the bird with a tear drop, inside a cage, with the text “game over” underneath.

While that artwork is purportedly a tribute, a more ambiguous bird image was painted on the outside wall of Werribee nightclub Studio 185 overnight on Sunday into Monday.

“I think it was a copycat or a kid … possibly a tribute” Studio 185 staff member Jarrod Jeremiah told NewsWire.

A Pam the Bird painting that appeared on a nightclub in the Melbourne suburb of Werribee. Picture: Supplied

A Pam the Bird on an old commercial chimney in the Melbourne suburb of Clifton Hill. Picture: Supplied

The painting is similar to the iconic Pam the Birds that litter Melbourne, including the ones police allege Mr Gibson-Burrell painted. This latest image has no accompanying text but looks like at least a ladder would have been required.

“We’re probably going to leave it up for the weekend,” Mr Jeremiah said.

“We have way bigger things that we have to report to the police,” he said of general goings-on in the Werribee area.

Operators of the Studio 185 nightclub in Werribee say they may keep a graffiti image on their external wall in tribute to the iconic Pam the Bird. Picture: Studio 185

“We’re a new venue, we were always thinking about putting neon signs around the venue. Now we might just keep (the painting) up.

“People will probably be taking pictures with it, people will probably get around it.”

Mr Gibson-Burrell is expected to face the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday afternoon. Police will allege he has caused $100,000 of damage. Since he was arrested, hundreds of people online have voiced their support for the artist to be freed.

Matthew Raoul White and Jack Gibson-Burrell are expected to apply for bail in court on Tuesday afternoon. Picture: NewsWire / Paul Tyquin

Police also arrested international graffiti artist Matthew Raoul White last week and will allege he wrote the SROCK tag often seen alongside Pam the Bird.

Mr Gibson-Burrell has been charged with more than 50 offences, including criminal damage, burglary and theft, while Mr White was charged with more than 20 criminal damage offences.

NewsWire has asked Victoria Police about the prospect of copycat and tribute Pam the Birds being painted, plus the possibility of people other than Mr Gibson-Burrell and Mr White being responsible for the image.

Originally published as Tribute and possible copycat Pam the Bird images painted across Melbourne