Colouring communities: Mural artist sharing her art in public spaces

Danielle Mate, who has worked on projects both in Australia and overseas, says she feels very fortunate to be able to share her Aboriginal culture and art with the community through her love for painting murals on large spaces.

Artist Danielle Mate Source: SBS Kurdish

A Murrawari woman through her mother and with German heritage from her father, Ms Mate said she initially had no desire for mural painting, but the progressiveness of her artwork led her down that path, something she now cherished.

“I like to work on a large scale so being given a wall that needs attention is exciting for me and provides the opportunity to share my culture,” Ms Mate told SBS Kurdish.

Danielle Mate painting Source: Supplied

She said her love for the Australian landscape had heavily influenced her artwork and that painting in public spaces allowed people an opportunity to stop by and establish a connection with the community.

“It’s not all about what I’m trying to paint, it’s about community and community communication. The engagement is the best part of what I do,” Ms Mate said. 

In particular, her mural at Burwood Westfield for NAIDOC Week had attracted an overwhelming response, she said.

“Burwood was absolutely beautiful, actually I don’t think I’ve ever had that many compliments and interactions before," she said.

Danielle Mate painting a mural at Burwood Source: Supplied

Ms Mate has done many murals in a range of locations, one of them being Milan, Italy, where she did a live painting at a design show in the city. 

"But I think the community at Burwood was more inquisitive, it was fantastic that it was school holidays, (so there was) engagement with young people as well," Ms Mate said.

"So I think the engagement is as important as the work and as long as the work catches the eye of the passer-by then you’re good to engage." 

She said her mural in Burwood was all about landscape and she had painted it from an aerial perspective. 

"I’ve certainly had a lot of people saying it reminds of them of flowers," she said. 

"Somebody said they saw a fish and that is the beautiful thing about art - whatever the viewer sees is up to them and their eyes." 

Ms Mate said she was looking forward to her next project working on a painting for the Police Commissioner of New South Wales.  

She is also working on a 29-metre mural on a wall at Campbelltown.  

Source: Supplied