Juddy Roller unveils major new Sofles mural on Smith Street, Collingwood as part of self-funded program.
Juddy Roller has dropped the second mural in its self-initiated program to reignite Fitzroy and Collingwood’s authentic Melbourne street art spirit, with renowned graffiti artist Sofles completing a major new work on Smith Street.
Delivered entirely independent of commercial commissions or council grants, the mural is fully funded by Juddy Roller, with paint materials donated by Dulux. Sofles, one of Australia’s most respected graffiti artists known for technically precise large-scale murals and deep roots in Melbourne’s train lines and laneways, contributed a significant chunk of his time to the project, underscoring his personal commitment to the neighbourhood and preserving the cultural integrity of the local street art scene.
Melbourne Street Art – Juddy Roller returns
- Where: Smith Street, Collingwood
- Artists: Sofles
- Funding: Self-funded by Juddy Roller
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This follows Juddy Roller’s first nearby work by Japanese artist Hiroton, created as part of the POSCA International Mural Exchange just 50 metres up the road. Together, the two murals deliberately re-anchor Smith Street as a living Melbourne street art corridor where artists are once again invited to paint with intent, freedom and authenticity rather than turning it into a curated backdrop.
For Juddy Roller founder and creative director Shaun Hossack, the project carries particular weight. Juddy Roller, a public art and placemaking studio best known for creating Australia’s Silo Art Trail and the landmark Collingwood Housing Mural, was based in Fitzroy for around 15 years, during which time the organisation curated and produced countless murals throughout Fitzroy and Collingwood. While they’ve since moved on from that physical location, Hossack reckons their heart never really left the area.
This new Smith Street mural isn’t about nostalgia but about continuity. During Juddy Roller’s Fitzroy years, the neighbourhood played a huge role in shaping Melbourne’s street art culture. The original Everfresh Studio era was happening nearby, international artists were coming and going, and walls were being painted because artists genuinely wanted to paint them, not because they were commissioned or chasing an art career.
During that period, Fitzroy and Collingwood became a global reference point for street art, with international and Australian artists regularly passing through and leaving their mark. Artists such as Banksy, Invader, Smug, Rone and Adnate were among those painting in and around the Melbourne area as part of a loose, organic creative ecosystem. That sense of movement, cultural exchange and experimentation made the area genuinely special.
Juddy Roller’s Smith Street program is intentionally modest in scale but ambitious in intent, prioritising artist-led work, local relevance and cultural value over branding or spectacle. These murals aren’t about advertising or Instagram moments but about reminding people that street art, at its best, is a form of cultural expression that belongs to the street first.
With Sofles’ mural now complete, Juddy Roller hopes the project will encourage renewed appreciation for Fitzroy and Collingwood as places where Melbourne street art can still be bold, challenging and rooted in community.
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