Graffiato Street Art Festival Mural – Taupō, NZ

I had an absolute blast creating this mural for the Graffiato Street Art Festival in Taupō! Inspired by the playful spirit of Taupō and its beautiful surroundings, I filled this mural with local icons that celebrate the area’s unique vibe.

For this design, I included Taupō wildlife like prawns, trout, native piwakawaka (fantail), and tūī. And in a nod to the locals' sense of humor, I also painted a road cone, thanks to a cheeky suggestion on the community Facebook group about Taupō’s never-ending roadworks!

To highlight the town’s outdoor activities, I added symbols like a golf club (for the lake's famous Hole-in-One challenge), a bike, a kayak, and a caravan. And since Taupō has some fab cafes and restaurants, I included plates, wine glasses, and coffee cups to capture that cozy, foodie culture.

I chose a limited colour palette which is bold and vibrant, featuring pink, teal, and sunshine yellow on a rich navy background. This was my first time working with a dark background, and I loved the chance to experiment! Despite a forecast of grey skies, we managed to dodge most of the rain!

A big shout-out to Olivia Laita and the team at Towncentre Taupō for all the support, and to my fellow artists for the chats and advice. An absolute career highlight!


GRAFFIATO - Taupō Street Art Festival
THANKS - Olivia Laita for the artist callout and organisation
PAINT - Paint by Resene


See the mural

Go and check out the mural behind Sorrento on Gallagher Street, Taupō. 

Make sure you tag me @jasminekroeze on Instagram!