THE RABBLE

Exhibition at PG GALLERY, 23rd March 2023

In this new body of work, Tom Civil’s iconic stick folk monikers are used within a collection of etchings, paintings and small sculptures to represent friendship and collectiveness.
Many of the artworks speak to social organising, representing the act of people gathering together in unity for a common idea – from small groups of friends to small community groups, to mass gatherings. ‘The Rabble’ celebrates everyday moments of life and community and contain stories within stories; small occurrences, intimate moments, group discussions, playing and dancing, moving together and sitting alone.

PRINTS AVAILABLE at PG GALLERY

Ayr Street Shops, Doncaster


Thank you to the community for their support and trust and to Manningham Council for commissioning my latest piece of pubic art at Ayr Street South Shops, Doncaster, Melbourne! This playful ground artwork attempts to reflect on our connection to nature as we go about our lives in a heavily urbanised and concrete and asphalt covered world. The artwork is also about how the places we live in were in the past, and how they could be in the future. The ‘contour lines’ reference the topography of the land as a 1:1 scale map that we walk through. A compass is used as a simple practical guide in direction and navigating the city, with a sun and moons represented to show the passing of days and months. There are references to the local flowers of tea tree and eucalyptus, local lady bugs and dragonflies. I hope people find unexpected games within the design too, whether jumping from flower to flower, following a dot track or exploring the compass.

Keen to keep exploring this ground technique – please get in touch about any potential projects and ideas! Reach me at civilwalls@gmail.com.

All photos from the big final install day by Charlie Kinross!

Coburg Courtyard

My mural and ground painting for the new ‘Coburg Courtyard’.
I want to send a huge thank you to the local community for all their support! And a special thank you to Amber Stuart – program manager outdoor activations at Moreland Council – for her creative and practical support throughout the project! Also big thanks to all the crew at Schoolhouse Studios, in particular Anna Del Rio, Grace Dlabik, Kitty Wursthorn and Hollie Fifer. So great meeting you all, and so excited to see how the Schoolhouse Studio space continues to grow over the coming years – go check them out!
And much love to my paint support crew! Huge thanks to Micheal Fikaris, Christian Veins, Niqui Toldi, Betty Musgrove and Abbey Rich.
And thanks to Nathan CCP (nathanccp.com)for these incredible photos and videos!
These murals attempt to reflect on our connection to nature as we go about our lives in a heavily urbanised and concrete and asphalt covered world, and how the Covid lockdowns drove people to spend time in the nature corridors of the city along the waterways and parks, and now how we emerge from these strange past few years learning how to gather again. The murals also day-dream about how the places we live were in the past, and how they could be in the future. There are also references to tracks, paths and desire lines…
And also as I painted this I couldn’t help but think how this mural also references an ever changing environment which is forcing people to flee where they live due to floods, fires and wars.
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Under the Bridge Murals, Moonee Ponds Creek, Flemington

UNDER THE BRIDGE is a public art project to celebrate Moonee Ponds Creek and the local community. This project is a pilot project for Waterways Public Art Projects which I have founded as well as a City of Moonee Valley Arts Recovery initiative. Murals have been painted on four pillars beneath the Tullamarine Freeway which celebrates the environmental and cultural benefits of healthy waterways to all who live locally or travel through the area on train, bike, car or by foot.

I worked with a small team of local artists on this huge dream project to paint murals on pillars near Debney’s Park in Flemington along the Moonee Ponds Creek Trail beside Mt Alexander Road, between The Flemington Housing Estate and Flinders Bridge Station. Come on down for a walk by the creek under the bridge!

A Blaze in the Night

Mural in the Green Spine Linear Park at rear 35 Parer Road, Airport West. This mural concept was a collaboration with a really great bunch of young people and staff from @valleyyouthmv – thank you all for your enthusiasm and beautiful magic ideas! Also a big thank you to all locals for your support, nice chats and even just the friendly hellos ;). This project was supported by the team from Mooney Valley City Council and the Incinerator Gallery team – a particular big thank you too Amy and Richard. Great to see big community public art projects up in the North West of Melbourne! Also a special thank you to my partner Lou @geniiloci for her help developing the words/poem on the mural.