New mural in Artarmon celebrates local native flora

Last modified on 19 December 2024

Willoughby City Council has added a vibrant new mural to the city’s creative streetscape, in Artarmon. Titled Bush Flora, the mural is the work of acclaimed German-Australian artist Mandy Schöne-Salter and celebrates the beauty of Willoughby’s native flora, featuring species such as Trigger Plant, Hibbertia, Cut-leaved Daisy, Native Storksbill, and Native Flax.

The mural is one of the first artworks of the Emerge Mural Project, which was initiated in August 2024 as part of Willoughby City Council’s annual Emerge Festival, encouraging community engagement with public art.

Willoughby City Council Mayor Tanya Taylor expressed her joy at seeing the mural come to life:  “The mural perfectly reflects the creativity and community spirit that define Willoughby and highlights the natural beauty of our local flora, reminding us of the small yet stunning details of our native bushland that we might otherwise overlook.

“This is an inspiring start to what I’m sure will be many more murals to come in Willoughby. I can’t wait to see more of these colourful artworks brighten up our streets in the future.”

The artist behind the mural, Mandy Schöne-Salter, is an interdisciplinary artist specialising in urban art, photography, and community art. For more than a decade, Mandy has worked on numerous street art projects across Australia and Europe under the pseudonym MAN.De.

“I strive to reestablish the vital bond between humanity and our environment through my artworks,” said Mandy. “By portraying native plants and animals in urban settings, I aim to emphasise this connection and remind us of our responsibility as caretakers.”

Reflecting on her experience creating Bush Flora, Mandy shared, “It has been so lovely painting in this location, close to this small pocket of bushland. The local community have been very supportive, some beeping their cars as they go by or yelling out ‘great job’ while I was up on the scaffolding.”

Residents and visitors are encouraged to visit Artarmon to view the mural and enjoy the vibrant energy it brings to the area.

The mural is located at 9 Elizabeth Street, only a short walk from Artarmon station.

ENDS