Hosier Lane: history and culture … 

This year marks the 11th anniversary of renowned street artist Adnate winning the first round of the Paint Up competition run by Hosier INC in conjunction with the City of Melbourne, an initiative aimed at revitalising Melbourne’s iconic laneways with large-scale murals.

This competition provided artists with an opportunity to leave a lasting mark on the city’s urban landscape, and Adnate’s powerful work has remained one of the most memorable pieces in Hosier Lane’s ever-evolving gallery. 

Adnate’s winning piece is a stunning portrait of an Aboriginal child, gazing out with deep, soulful eyes across Birrarung Marr. This mural was not just a remarkable artistic achievement but also a powerful cultural statement, bringing Indigenous heritage and identity to the forefront of Melbourne’s street art scene. 

Known for his ability to capture emotion and depth in his large-scale works, Adnate’s creation in Hosier Lane immediately resonated with locals and visitors alike. 

The mural’s impact was immediate. It became a focal point in Melbourne’s vibrant street art scene and drew international attention, cementing Adnate’s reputation as one of Australia’s most influential street artists. 

Beyond its artistic merits, the mural sparked conversations about Indigenous representation in public spaces and the role of street art in social commentary. 

The Paint Up competition win and Adnate’s subsequent mural in Hosier Lane exemplified the power of street art to inspire, challenge, and transform public spaces. 

His work continues to serve as a testament to the importance of cultural expression in urban environments, ensuring that art remains accessible, thought-provoking, and deeply connected to the stories that shape our world. 

Adnate is currently being featured in the street art exhibition The Outsiders that is showing on the corner of Flinders Lane and Hosier Lane. The gallery is located on the first floor of 167 Flinders Lane.  

This exhibition is open to the public for free and holds more than 100 works by many well-known local and international artists. It really needs to be seen to understand the history and rich culture street art has developed in Melbourne.   

The works all belong to a private collection purported to be the largest in Australia owned by Sandra Powell and Andrew King.  Over the past 15 years this passionate couple fondly known as “Sandrew” have amassed some of the most iconic, rare and sort after pieces to form a body of work that provides a history of street art like no other.  

Interestingly, their collection has no permanent exhibition home, and they are currently trying to find a space in Melbourne that will be large enough to house it so that they can bequeath it to the City of Melbourne. 

If you haven’t seen the works that are currently on show (not the full collection), you have until May 25 with the exhibition opening every day at 12pm and closing at 6pm. •