Sparking Creativity Together: My Student Collaboration Mural at Glenfield Intermediate, Auckland

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!