Canberra-based artist Yanni Pounartzis is bringing life to the Queanbeyan CBD’s No Name Lane with a colourful large-scale mural, thanks to a NSW government grant awarded to Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council.
Pounartzis is bringing his distinctive style of layering fun colours to transform the laneway, hand painting No Name Lane with the mural that encompasses both façades and pavement.
The pedestrian laneway intersects with Monaro Street and acts as a link between carparks, businesses, community and arts venues.
QPRC said the design is part of the contemporary concept for the laneway that will also feature neon light elements, greenery, new seating and a collection of lightboxes to showcase rotating exhibitions from local artists. The first of these will include photographs from local photographer, Hilary Wardhaugh.
Pounartzis has delivered many striking works across Canberra and the region including his ‘Pedestrian Strips’ mural and most recent sculpture ‘Big Swoop’, which landed in Canberra’s Garema Place earlier this year.
He has worked both nationally and internationally as a mural artist and his paintings are held in private collections in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Berlin and New York.
The lane’s rejuvenation is part of the Monaro Lanes project which will improve the pedestrian safety, amenity and functionality of both No Name Lane and Blacksmiths Lane, the Council said.
QPRC was successful in securing $505,701 in funding from the NSW Government’s Your High Street program in May 2021. The grant program is for councils to support local business recovery, provide economic stimulus, and improve community safety and comfort.
