When asked about the projects, Adnate said “Kingpin is a high-energy environment, so the artwork needed to match that intensity while still bringing depth and emotion. I’m always interested in how art can change the atmosphere of a space and create a stronger experience for the people who move through it."
This mural is located on Dame Edna Pl, so it was fitting there was a tribute to the inspiration behind the laneway's namesake
"For this project, the intention was to create something that adds presence and feeling." - Adnate
"[Art] that people don’t just walk past, but connect with, even if it’s only for a moment." - Adnate
"When art sits within a social space like this, it becomes part of the energy, shaping the mood and giving the environment its own identity." - Adnate
Sofles (Russell Fenn) is a renowned Australian graffiti and mural artist whose work has become a defining presence across global street art culture. Though originally from Brisbane, he has made a strong mark on Melbourne’s street art scene through major collaborations and large‑scale projects. His style is instantly recognisable: bold graphics, vivid colour palettes, fine detail, and dynamic compositions that blend traditional graffiti with photorealism, abstraction and comic‑influenced imagery.
"With Kingpin, the idea was to go big and create something that hits you straight away. It’s a loud, fast-moving environment, so the artwork needed to feel just as bold and energetic." sad Sofles about his murals within the space.
"My approach is always pretty instinctive, building layers, pushing the composition and letting the piece evolve as it grows across the surface." - Sofles
Using his renowned pink tones to capture the heart of the futuristic gamer
Exuding golden opulence
Hyper realistic golden artworks with a hidden secret, Rosie captured her colleague Adnate's portrait to the right in the reflection of her art
A golden 'KP' monogram that gives a premium feel to the space
Lauren YS (also known as LoLo YS or Squid Licker) is a Los Angeles-born, internationally active street artist whose work blends surrealism, psychedelia and bold narrative storytelling. With a background spanning academics, literature, writing, teaching, illustration and animation, her multidisciplinary foundation feeds into a richly layered visual language that carries across murals, fine art and public installations. Her aesthetic is instantly recognisable as imaginary heroines, dreamlike symbolism, mythological references and fluid, otherworldly forms, all influenced by dreams, mythology, death, comics, love, psychedelia, animation, and her Asian‑American heritage. The result is a “misfit wonderland” populated by powerful feminine figures who confront the absurdities of reality through fantastical narrative environments.
Lauren talked a little more about the concept for the arcade murals; "The brief for Kingpin touched on so many of the things I naturally love to paint: movement, play, surreal characters, and a sense of energy and escape. What really stood out was the creative freedom to interpret the space in my own way and build a visual world that feels bold, immersive, and a little unexpected."
"’m always drawn to themes that blend imagination with emotion, creating characters and environments that feel alive and expressive." - Lauren
"For this piece, I wanted the artwork to capture the feeling of release and excitement—the kind of energy people come to Kingpin to experience." - Lauren
"[To] create something that brings a sense of personality and play to the environment.” - Lauren
"[Kingpin's creative] freedom allowed me to lean into my favourite elements — colour, movement, and storytelling." - Lauren
Using the concept of movement in-venue coupled with themes of past, present and future
A nod to royalty in all its facets
A nod to royalty in all its facets
Theming a break-out space in-venue with a mural that brings the character of sports to the zone
An elevation to a secluded space in-venue to match the vibes of a group event
