Street artist Jarrod Grech ‘JGrech’ talks his viral Melbourne mural of convicted murderer Erin Patterson

The electrician who painted the viral mural of convicted murderer Erin Patterson has told the Herald Sun he never expected his painting of the killer to gain worldwide attention.

Jarrod Grech’s street mural of convicted killer Erin Patterson went viral during the high-profile trial. Picture: Mark Stewart

The street artist who painted the mural of convicted murderer Erin Patterson says he never expected his painting of the killer to gain international attention.

Melbourne-born and raised Jarrod Grech, who goes by JGrech, immortalised Patterson in a huge graffiti mural at Kulinbulok Ln in Melbourne while her murder trial was underway in Morwell.

The painting, dubbed “Bon Appetit”, was quickly picked up by national and international news outlets as one of the few publishable pictures depicting the convicted killer to surface while she was being held in custody.

The ‘Bon Appetit’ mural popped up in mid-June during the trial of Erin Patterson. Picture: Ian Currie

JGrech's mural in the Herald Sun on June 17.

“I knew it would stir up a bit of conversation but the level of national and international media coverage blew me away,” Mr Grech said.

“The image of Erin I painted I felt was a powerful image that will be remembered in Australian history and it’s Melbourne culture to paint it in the street.”

Mr Grech, an electrician by trade, returned to the laneway to update the mural with a huge “guilty” stamp after the verdict was delivered, naming the new piece “Bon Voyage”.

He said it was the role of street art to “reflect society and what people are talking about” — and was glad his depiction of Patterson did exactly that.

“As an artist, I try to paint significant moments, not to pass judgement,” he said.

“The Erin Patterson case became one of the most bizarre, talked about stories in Australia. I was capturing the moment in time when the whole country was watching.”

Jarrod Grech sayas he paints to capture significant moments in popular culture. Picture: Mark Stewart

While the Patterson piece was by far his most talked about to date, Mr Grech quipped it wasn’t his “first rodeo” with virality.

The artist last made headlines with his mega mural tribute to late cricketer Shane Warne, which he painted on what he believed to be an abandoned property in Carlton.

He faced criminal charges for painting it without permission from the owner, but walked free from court with a warning after receiving support from Warne’s daughter during the legal battle.

Jarrod Grech with his mural of Shane Warne in 2022. Picture: Instagram

Mr Grech has released limited edition prints of both “Bon Appetit” and “Bon Voyage” on his website at www.jgrechart.com.

“If your walking past the laneway, take a second look — I always have something cooking,” he said.

Originally published as Street artist Jarrod Grech ‘JGrech’ talks his viral Melbourne mural of convicted murderer Erin Patterson