How one word became a backdrop for belonging
Within a week of painting this Welcome mural for the Gold Coast Student Hub, I received a photo that made me smile. A community event transformed the space into a joyful celebration, with performers, students and visitors gathering in front of the wall. Welcome had become part of the occasion!
This project was a collaboration with the City of Gold Coast team. They chose colours that reflected the Student Hub's identity and I used those colours to devise the handwritten samples. Resene produced the custom paint for the project, giving the mural a unique palette that couldn't be replicated from a standard colour chart.
Initial sketches and mockups
As someone who specialises in lettering murals, I'm fascinated by the way words can shape a space. A single word can influence how people feel when they arrive, whether they're starting university, attending an event or just passing through. Projects like this also remind me how closely the arts and education belong together. Creative spaces encourage curiosity and connection — sometimes the simplest message can help people feel they belong.
Seeing this mural become a backdrop for community and self-expression was a wonderful reminder about the meaningful moments of public art that happen after we pack away the brushes.
