Colour your world: MoB gets a bold, new Edge
Widely known for his colourful naive paintings, Brisbane artist Martin Edge has transformed two gallery walls with his engaging murals as artist-in-residence at the Museum of Brisbane.
What’s the best compliment you could give artist Martin Edge? A smile will do, actually. I’ve followed his work for some years, and I can attest to the fact that it always makes me smile.
He’s known for his naïve playful works that capture real and imagined moments and draw on everyday observations. Edge’s artistic compositions engage the viewer with light-hearted imagery that references travel and transport (with a particular fondness for Brisbane’s CityCats), ocean scenes and cityscapes
At the moment the Strathpine-based artist is leaving an indelible mark on Museum of Brisbane (MoB) as a 2026 artist-in-residence. Some visitors were lucky enough to witness the creation of his two striking, large-scale murals of Brisbane in the Fairfax Gallery as part of his 11-week residency. These will be on display until July 12.
The artist has transformed the gallery walls with his signature sunny outlook, sharing his immersive and vivid vision of Brisbane City in two animated scenes – one dominated by Brisbane City Hall, the other by the Story Bridge.
His residency, Welcome to Brisbane, includes daily school-holiday workshops with colouring-in and collaging based on his work. The museum has published a fun colouring-in book titled Welcome to Brisbane, with an element of his Story Bridge mural on the cover, and a CityCat, which is a bit of a signature.
“CityCats are one of my favourites,” he says, pointing to a cut-out of one of his CityCat drawings on a nearby museum window. He does a cameo in one of the murals.
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“I always put myself in the picture,” he says. “That’s me on a skateboard wearing a helmet. I like skateboarding but I’m not allowed to do it because it’s dangerous.”
It’s little touches like that which make his paintings such fun.
“This is my vision of Brisbane, and a lot of people can relate to it,” he says. “A lot of people smile when they see my work and that makes me feel good.”
An award-winning visual artist and Autism Queensland ambassador, Edge is a self-described naïve painter whose work is largely autobiographical. He draws inspiration from his adventures and surrounds, translating them into fun, bright and colourful paintings that invite audiences to see the world through his eyes and find joy in the everyday.
He has exhibited in more than 100 group shows and 20 solo exhibitions across Australia, and his works are displayed in state and national collections, including HOTA, Parliament House and State Library of Queensland.
Museum of Brisbane CEO and director Zoe Graham says visitors were able to connect with the artist and his artwork in a meaningful way as the murals transformed the gallery walls.
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Some visitors were lucky enough to see Edge creating the murals, but now they are completed. Still, you might get the opportunity to meet and chat with the artist, who enjoys popping into the workshops.
We chat just before the museum opens for the day and he says he intends to stay around to mingle with his fans. When I ask him which artists he likes, a name immediately comes to his mind. Ken Done. And that makes sense, when you consider Done’s oeuvre and his love of colour.
Turns out the artist is friendly with Done, had morning tea with him at his office in Sydney not that long ago.
“He’s very nice, “Edge says. “And very supportive. He owns about 10 of my works. I get inspiration from him.” And that makes perfect sense.
Edge exhibits with Anthea Polson Art on the Gold Coast and has an exhibition coming up there in early 2027, for those interested in purchasing one of his charming paintings. His usual work is, he explains, a bit smaller than the wall-covering murals at MoB, which were painted on large boards affixed to two walls in the gallery space.
It will be interesting to see where these murals end up. Whatever happens, he has enjoyed his residency.
This year MoB marks a decade of its artist-in-residence program, which is generously supported by philanthropist Tim Fairfax. Since 2016, the initiative has commissioned and championed local artists to create new works within the museum, sparking community connection and creative dialogue. Martin Edge’s residency is also supported by The Culture Crusader.
Pop in and do some colouring-in, if you like, and have a look at his engaging murals. They will certainly make you smile and that will make the artist very happy, indeed.
Artist in Residence: Martin Edge – Welcome to Brisbane continues at the Museum of Brisbane, Brisbane City Hall, until July 12. Entry is free.
museumofbrisbane.com.au/whats-on/artist-in-residence-martin-edge
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