The streets of The Gap have become an outdoor art gallery, with vibrant artworks adorning utility boxes throughout the suburb. Through the Artforce Brisbane program, local families, students and artists have transformed once-mundane infrastructure into eye-catching installations that celebrate the area’s natural beauty and community spirit.
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Up The Creek – Mind The Gap by The Goodwin Family
Location: Settlement Road & Chaprowe Road
The Goodwin Family has created a stunning tribute to Fish Creek, depicting the waterway’s native ecosystem in remarkable detail. The front of the signal box showcases three distinct vegetation levels: Blue Quandong, Lacebark tree and River She Oak in the canopy; Queensland Ebony, Black Wattle and Native Mulberry in the understorey; and Brisbane lily, Binung Fern and longleaved malrush in the groundcover.
The sides feature local wildlife including Australian King Parrots, Red-tailed Cockatoos, Water Dragons, Eastern Sedgefrogs, Freshwater Mullet and Eel-tailed Catfish. On the back, there’s a touch of environmental messaging—weeds and rubbish being deposited in a green bin under the watchful gaze of an ibis, nodding to the conservation efforts of the passionate Fish Creek restoration group.
Diversity is a Fact, Inclusion is an Act by The Gap State High School
Location: Waterworks Road & Pammay Street
The Gap State High School students have created a powerful piece celebrating neurodiversity and inclusion. “Inclusion is about feeling a sense of belonging, no matter our differences,” the artists explain.
The design raises awareness about how each individual’s brain works differently, bringing unique strengths and skills to the world. The message is clear: when differences and strengths are brought together and celebrated, communities grow stronger.
Hive by Lara Coogan
Location: 66 Illowra Street
Local artist Lara Coogan drew inspiration from the artwork’s location next to Hive, The Gap, creating a design featuring bees and flowers. The piece celebrates The Gap’s abundance of plant life whilst paying homage to the neighbouring business. Coogan’s thoughtful approach demonstrates how public art can reflect and complement its immediate surroundings.
Preserving our Wildlife by Kathy Sullivan
Location: Waterworks Road & Settlement Road & Illowra Street
Kathy Sullivan’s installation on a Q150 transformer box makes a bold statement about environmental conservation. “Creatures of The Gap have been turned into metal,” Sullivan explains. “This artwork is a statement about their vulnerability.” The piece serves as a visual reminder of the fragility of local wildlife and the importance of preservation efforts.
A Season as a Guide by Walton Bridge Rangers
Location: Waterworks Road & Payne Road
The Walton Bridge Rangers have created a deeply symbolic piece centred around a Jacaranda tree, described as “quintessentially Brisbane.” Each year, the explosion of purple blooms across The Gap’s hills signals the start of spring. The Rangers recall gathering beneath Jacaranda trees in Walton Bridge Reserve, “lost in conversation with the blooms softly raining down on our heads.”
The tree’s branches form a Trefoil, symbolic of the Guiding movement, whilst incorporated Guide Badges represent the practical skills developed by Girl Guides. The title “A Season as a Guide” reflects Rangers’ position as the final rank before moving to adult guiding.
Flowers and Branches by Emma Barry
Photo credit: artforcebrisbane.com.au
Location: Waterworks Road & Cooinda Street
Emma Barry’s artwork magnifies pollinators and insects to highlight their crucial role in sustaining the environment. “The importance of pollinators and insects has become widely known in relation to how they contribute to and sustain many parts of our environment,” Barry notes. By expanding their size, the artwork encourages viewers to appreciate how small animals can bring large and important changes to our world.
Flowers by Elli Veleski
Location: Waterworks Road & Glenquarie Place
Student artist Elli Veleski took a therapeutic approach to her nature-inspired design, filling the signal box with bold spring flowers. “Drawing flowers is therapeutic for me, and I hope my flowers catch people’s eye on their daily drive, make them smile and help them to relax also,” Veleski shares. The artwork transforms drab infrastructure into a cheerful addition to daily commutes.
In The Moment by Grace Tupicoff & Jemima Gibbons
Location: Waterworks Road & Payne Road
Grace Tupicoff and Jemima Gibbons have created a contemplative piece depicting insects, plants and mushrooms—all species found in the local area. The intention is profound yet simple: “for the viewer to appreciate the smaller parts of nature that we tend to overlook. To be in the moment despite busy lives and stop to see the little things.”
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About Artforce Brisbane
Artforce Brisbane is an initiative that has been transforming utility boxes into public artworks since 1999. The program celebrates the characters, cultures, histories and landmarks of Brisbane’s suburbs whilst showcasing local creativity.
Brisbane offers around 80 Artforce opportunities annually, with the program managed by Artfully, a Brisbane-based arts consultancy specialising in public art and placemaking. The initiative is open to Brisbane residents of all ages and artistic backgrounds, providing practical experience and networking opportunities within Brisbane’s arts community.
Through programs like Artforce Brisbane, everyday infrastructure becomes more than functional—it becomes a canvas for community storytelling and artistic expression.
Published 31-December-2025
