Award-winning mural aims to bring nature to the city

11 Apr 2024

Auckland artists Kim Littlejohn and Carol Green recently unveiled their new mural 'Bringing nature to the city' on the wall of a building off Lloyd Avenue, Mt Albert.

Kim and Carol were one of ten winners from across the country who took out the top prize in Keep New Zealand Beautiful’s Resene Nature Mural Competition, to paint a mural with an environmental theme or message and to help beautify an area.

Kim (Te Ataiawa, Ngāti Tama) and Carol took inspiration from the nearby Te Auaunga (Oakley Creek) which runs from Puketāpapa (Mt Roskill), through Ōwairaka (Mt Albert) to the Waitematā harbour. They included plants and birds from the area (whau, kawakawa, kōwhai, pōhutukawa, pīwakawaka, matuku moana and tūī) as well as organic shapes reminiscent of the water in the awa.

Kim (a graphic designer) and Carol (an illustrator) designed the mural to help soften the building work and ever-increasing development occurring nearby and all around the central suburb of Mt Albert, and to help remind people that nature is all around them.

"We wanted to brighten up a grey corner of suburbia where we share a studio by reflecting what might have been there in the past," the duo said.

Kim and Carol in front of their mural 'Bringing nature to the city', painted in Resene Daredevil, Resene Galliano, Resene Half Titania, Resene Calypso, Resene Elephant and Resene Aqua.

About the Resene Nature Mural Competition

The Resene Nature Mural Competition, which is part of the Paint New Zealand Beautiful programme, runs each year from April to June. Community members were called on to submit mural designs, which include an environmental message, for a wall to paint in their local community. Artists from around the country sent in their designs, with the top ten murals selected based on their environmental message, enhancement of the community, and originality/creativity. Winners then have 12 months to bring their mural to life.

View a map of all Keep New Zealand Beautiful’s Resene Nature Murals here.

And keep an eye out for the next competition starting soon!

Published: 11 Apr 2024