Geelong mural named one of Australia’s best

A mural painted on a Geelong West store has been named as one of the best public art experiences in the nation.

A mural painted on the Bakers Delight store in Geelong West to celebrate cancer survivors has been named as one of the best public art experiences in the nation.

The mural, by Surf Coast artist Kirsten Walsh, has been short-listed for the 2020 Australian Street Art Awards’ Best External Mural gong.

The winners in all eight Australian Street Art Awards categories will be announced on March 2 in Queensland.

Awards director, Liz Rivers, said the awards showcase regions like Geelong that are using outdoor art to transform their infrastructure and street scapes, while educating Australians about the magnificent array of publicly-accessible art that can be found in every corner of the country.

Geelong West has been splashed with an injection of colour and three emotive faces, thanks to a huge 10 metre mural, on the wall of Bakers Delight on Pakington Street. Left: Belinda White (Studio Director, Bells Fine Art), artist Kirstin Walsh and Bakers Delight Geelong West owner Suranga Sena (who survived a rare brain condition). Picture: Glenn Ferguson

“Securing a finalist berth in the prestigious awards further cements the Greater Geelong and the Bellarine region’s reputation as bucket list destination for tourists who love to seek out art experiences,” Ms Rivers said.

Walsh, a hyper realism artist, was overjoyed when she heard she had been named a finalist in the prestigious award.

“I am honoured to be named a finalist for the 2020 Best External Mural award, the warmth and strength of the women depicted in this mural really speak to the community and this wall is now a focal point for the community and locals of Geelong,” Walsh said.

The mural spreads across the entire side wall of the Pakington Street store, with numerous vignettes expressing the journey of cancer sufferers – the smiling face of a bald woman on a pink background representing breast cancer, another wearing a beanie girl on a green background pays tribute to sufferers of brain cancer and a young child survivor holding a dandelion blows messages of hope and love to families, sufferers, survivors and others impacted by cancer.

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Originally published as Geelong mural named one of Australia’s best