Oxfam Australia
artist: ADNATEBringing the Conversation Back to the Street
Location: Fitzroy, Melbourne
Client: Oxfam Australia
Scope: Art Direction, Activation & Production
As global leaders, billionaires and policymakers gathered behind closed doors at the World Economic Forum in Davos, a very different conversation was unfolding on the streets of Fitzroy.
Not through digital campaigns or targeted messaging, but through public space — using scale, visibility and presence to bring complex issues into everyday life. In collaboration with Oxfam Australia, Juddy Roller curated and delivered a major public artwork by Australian artist Matt Adnate, reframing conversations around wealth inequality, power and accountability within the urban environment.
To bring complex conversations around wealth inequality, power and accountability into the public realm — shifting discourse from policy forums and digital channels into a format that is visible, immediate and accessible.
Delivered in collaboration with Oxfam Australia, the project sought to engage audiences beyond traditional campaign environments, using public art to create a more direct and lasting connection with the issue.
Brief
Juddy Roller curated and delivered a large-scale mural by Australian artist Matt Adnate, transforming a Fitzroy streetscape into a highly visible public statement.
At the centre of the work are two opposing figures placed in deliberate visual tension — a sharply dressed businessman rendered in cold tones, and a protester, calm and unflinching. Together, they reflect the contrast between concentrated wealth and collective action, inviting reflection on the balance of power within contemporary society.
Rather than relying on slogans or overt messaging, the work uses scale, portraiture and presence to create impact — allowing the conversation to emerge through the experience of the artwork itself.
Approach
Positioned within the urban environment, the mural operates beyond the limitations of digital campaigns — engaging audiences through physical space, repetition and proximity.
As people move through the street, the work becomes part of the everyday experience of the city: encountered unexpectedly, photographed, discussed and revisited over time. This sustained visibility creates a deeper and more considered form of engagement.
For Oxfam, the project extends advocacy into shared public space. For Adnate, it continues a practice grounded in representation and social storytelling. And for Juddy Roller, it reflects an ongoing belief that public art can shape conversations, strengthen public engagement, and create meaningful moments within the built environment.
Outcome
“At a time when wealth and power are increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few, this mural reflects the growing call for equity, accountability and tax justice. As global elites gather in Davos, this artwork brings the conversation back to the streets, highlighting the urgent need to tackle extreme wealth inequality and ensure the richest pay their fair share of tax.”
Sarah Rogan, Oxfam Australia Equality Campaign Lead