Australia’s Street Artists and Graffiti Artists · Est. 2011
What is a street artist? And how to hire one
A complete guide to commissioned street art — what it is, what it costs, who does it, and how to bring it to your space.
Blackbook Ink is one of Australia’s leading street art studios. Since 2011, our street artists and graffiti artists have delivered 670+ commissioned projects for councils, schools, developers, brands and community organisations.
★★★★★
5.0 Google rating · Trusted by Sydney Water, PCYC NSW, Charter Hall, City of Ryde Council and 300+ clients
670
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Murals Completed
300
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Happy Clients
25
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Years Artist Experience
5.0
Google Rating
About Street Artists
What is a street artist?
A street artist is a professional visual artist who creates large-scale artwork in public or semi-public spaces — exterior walls, building facades, laneways, underpasses and urban environments.
The term covers a wide range of practices: aerosol murals, hand-painted large-format works, stencil art and site-responsive installation. What unites them is scale, environment and intent — artwork created for public experience, not gallery walls.
In a commercial context, a street artist is someone who takes a brief, develops a concept, and executes it on a wall. They’re equal parts artist and tradesperson: comfortable on scissor lifts and scaffolding, managing WHS compliance on active sites, working to client timelines and community briefs.
Street art vs. graffiti art — what’s the difference?
The terms are used interchangeably in everyday conversation, but they have different origins.
Graffiti Art
Rooted in aerosol culture
Emerged from illegal tagging and lettering — New York in the 1970s and 80s, then global. Characterised by bold lettering styles, aerosol technique, characters and a distinctly urban visual language. The best graffiti artists bring decades of technical skill with a can.
Street Art
A broader discipline
A wider category that includes graffiti-style aerosol work, hand-painted murals, stencils, paste-ups and conceptual site-responsive work. The distinction often comes down to medium and intent more than technique.
In practice, most professional artists — including everyone at Blackbook Ink — work fluidly across both. The brief determines the approach.
Project Types
What do street artists work on?
Professional street artists take on a wide range of commissioned projects. The common thread is large-scale artwork on surfaces — but context, audience and purpose vary enormously.
Exterior building murals
Large-format artwork on commercial, residential and public buildings. Transforms blank facades into landmark pieces.
Public art commissions
Council and government-funded work for parks, community spaces and transport infrastructure.
Laneway and precinct art
Urban renewal and cultural activation in laneways, underpasses and commercial precincts.
School murals
Community and identity artwork for primary and secondary schools, often co-designed with students.
Brand murals and activations
Marketing-led artwork for product launches, retail activations, campaign murals and experiential events.
Corporate feature walls
Interior and exterior murals for workplaces, co-working spaces and corporate headquarters.
The Process
How to hire a street artist
Commissioning a street artist is more straightforward than most clients expect.
Pricing
How much does it cost to hire a street artist?
Street art pricing is driven by five factors: wall size, artwork complexity, materials, site access and location.
Small exterior mural or laneway piece
(up to 15m²)
$1,500 – $5,000
Mid-size commercial or community mural
(15–60m²)
$5,000 – $20,000
Large public art commission or multi-wall project
(60m²+)
$20,000+
Brand activation or live event art
$2,500 – $10,000+
What affects the price:
Wall size
Biggest single driver — more area means more time and materials.
Artwork detail
Photorealistic work takes longer than bold graphic styles.
Access equipment
Scissor lifts and boom lifts add cost for high walls.
Location
Regional and interstate projects may include travel costs.
Timeline
Rush jobs may attract a premium.
Protective coatings
Optional UV and anti-graffiti coatings for outdoor walls.
Locations
Street artists across Australia
Blackbook Ink street artist teams operate across all major Australian cities and travel nationally for larger commissions.
Sydney
Primary base · Est. 2011 · Inner suburbs, North Shore, Western Sydney
Melbourne
Dedicated team · CBD laneways, Inner North, Inner East
Perth
Dedicated team · Perth metro and Western Australia
How to choose
What makes a great commissioned street artist?
Not all street artists are suited to commercial commission work. Here’s what to look for.
01
Genuine street art background
Years of real outdoor work, developed personal style, aerosol technique and scale experience.
Look for artists with a real portfolio of outdoor walls — not digital illustrations transferred to surfaces.
02
Commercial professionalism
Shows up on time, communicates clearly, manages WHS requirements, and delivers on brief.
Portfolio quality matters, but so does the ability to work within a professional project context.
03
Concept development capability
Great commissioned artists take a brief, ask the right questions, and come back with a concept that surprises and exceeds expectations.
Not one that simply executes what they’re told.
04
Insurance and compliance
Public liability insurance as standard. For school and government projects: working with children checks, WHS plans and method statements.
All standard at Blackbook Ink.
05
Legal, commissioned work only
Any professional street artist working commercially operates with full property owner consent and handles relevant permits.
Blackbook Ink only accepts legally commissioned projects.
06
Track record at scale
Ask to see projects comparable in size and type to yours.
A portfolio of small pieces doesn’t prove capability for a 60m² exterior wall or a multi-site council commission.
Clients Reviews
What clients say
Related Services
Other ways we can help
Graffiti artists for hire
Aerosol-based lettering, characters and graffiti-style artwork for walls, events and activations.
Muralists for hire
Hand-painted and mixed-media large-format murals for any environment, indoors or out.
Brand activations
Live painting, event art and brand murals that turn a wall into a marketing asset.
Common questions
Street art frequently asked questions
What is street artist?
A street artist is a professional visual artist who creates large-scale artwork in public or semi-public spaces. In a commercial context, they take a client brief, develop a concept, and execute it on a wall — with all the project management, insurance and logistics that involves. At Blackbook Ink, our street artists bring authentic graffiti and aerosol backgrounds to every commissioned project.
What's the difference between street artist and graffiti artist?
Graffiti art has its roots in aerosol lettering and tagging culture — bold characters, letterforms and spray technique. Street art is a broader term covering murals, stencils, paste-ups and site-responsive work. In practice, professional artists like those at Blackbook Ink work across both. The brief determines the approach.
How much does it cost to hire a street artist in Australia?
Costs typically range from $1,500–$5,000 for smaller pieces, $5,000–$20,000 for mid-size murals, and $20,000+ for large public art commissions. Pricing is driven by wall size, complexity, access and location. We provide free itemised quotes within 24 hours.
Is commissioned street art legal?
Yes — commissioned street art is fully legal when the property owner has given consent and the artist is appropriately insured. Blackbook Ink is fully insured and handles all permissions and compliance as standard. We only accept legally commissioned work.
Do I need a design before contacting you?
No. We develop a fully custom concept for every project, including digital mockups and revision rounds before any painting starts.
How long does a street art project take?
Smaller murals can be completed in 1–3 days. Mid-size commercial murals typically take 3–10 days on-site. Large public art commissions may take several weeks including the concept phase. We’ll give you a confirmed timeline with your quote.
Where do your street artists work?
Across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, and nationally for larger commissions. Our city-based teams have strong knowledge of local council requirements, permit processes and the local art scene.
Ready to commission a street artist?
Free consultation. Quote within 24 hours. Australia-wide.
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