Ocean Mural on Tamaki Drive: My Chill Turtle & Sea Creatures – Lucia LaubscherAs 2025 drew to a close, I found myself diving into another exciting KiwiRail project—this time on a much smaller, more intimate scale compared to the massive 160-metre railway corridor wall I painted back in April. The canvas? A humble stop box along Tamaki Drive in Parnell, Auckland, right beside the sparkling ocean. It felt like the perfect spot for my underwater creature designs—the location’s breezy sea vibes and salty air made everything click into place.I’d sketched that chill turtle ages ago, dreaming of the day it would swim onto a real outdoor surface in a piece of public art. So when this opportunity came along, I was beyond thrilled—finally, my favourite sea turtle was getting its moment in the sun (and salt spray!). I kept the ocean theme close to my heart, adding a bold tribal-patterned octopus, a graceful jellyfish, a majestic manta ray, playful starfish and seahorses, then tying it all together with swirling bubbles and gentle waves.The whole Auckland mural came together in just about three sunny days. I was incredibly lucky with the weather—bright skies and just enough shade from the big tree overhead to keep the summer heat at bay while I worked. Every brushstroke felt joyful, like the ocean itself was cheering me on.I loved every minute of bringing this ocean themed mural to life, and it’s left me buzzing with ideas. Here’s to more sea-inspired public art pieces and underwater creature murals in 2026—watch this space!
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Sparking Creativity Together: My Student Collaboration Mural at Glenfield Intermediate, Auckland1/8/2026 From Student Ideas to Wall Art: My Collaborative Mural Journey at Glenfield Intermediate School Late last year, I had the absolute pleasure of spending an hour or two with a group of wonderfully creative students from Glenfield Intermediate School in Auckland. We gathered to brainstorm and dream up the best ways to bring the school’s core values—the Four R's: Responsibility, Resilience, Respect, and Relationships—to life on a wall.The kids dove right in, pencils flying as they sketched out their ideas, capturing what those values meant to them in bright, imaginative ways. It was inspiring to watch their energy and see how thoughtfully they translated big ideas into drawings. After collecting all their brilliant concepts, I collated them into a few different design options. Then the Principal and staff stepped in, thoughtfully selecting the strongest elements from each one and asking me to blend them with the school’s unique aesthetics, culture, and a touch of native patterned designs that felt right for the space. In the end, a vibrant, slightly abstract, and beautifully patterned values-inspired mural emerged, with the school logo proudly taking centre stage.We painted it directly onto a brick wall of one of the school buildings, overlooking the netball fields. The result? A splash of colour and positivity that instantly brightens the whole area and reminds everyone who passes by of what the school stands for.I completed the entire Glenfield Intermediate mural over three joyful days, mostly using spray paint to achieve those bold, flowing patterns. Every session felt special—knowing the artwork was born from real student ideas made the process even more meaningful.I love these collaborative school mural projects because they turn young voices into something lasting and uplifting. Here’s to more student collaboration art adventures in the future!
The summer season started off with painting one of my favorite artworks of the year - a lovely poolside mural in Mount Eden - for some of my favorite clients of the year! Suzanne and Rob were truly lovely and entrusted me with splashing a colourful scene on their garden wall. This artwork included many of the clients' favorite New Zealand birds, plants and beaches. Suzanne and Rob wanted a bright and busy artwork to add colour to their otherwise neutral outdoor space. With the wild West Coast beaches of Auckland being their favorite spots, I included two particularly recognizable scenes on the background, and scattered native flowers and plants across the scene, with a majestic Pohutukawa tree standing proud in one corner.
Suzanne requested a nod to her Maori heritage to be included in the wall art, and with a bright Maori sun and some tribal patterns scattered into the overall design, the mural is brought to life with a mix of realism and abstract. Ready for your own custom mural? Get in touch |
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