Travelling Mural Nomad paints Geraldton, Northampton with colour fundraising for Black Dog Institute

Patrycja Hannagan — known as PJ — is a nomad in name and by trade, leaving her mark behind during her travels in strokes of bright colours and bold designs come to life.

The commission-based mural artist is travelling around Australia on a mission to paint 100 murals in support of the Black Dog Institute and recently began working in the Mid West, brightening up Northampton and Geraldton.

Beginning in Queensland and moving through the Northern Territory to Western Australia, the Mural Nomad began painting a mural at St John WA Sub Centre in Northampton on Monday.

Hannagan, 28, will paint her 40th mural at Holland Street School in Geraldton next Monday.

Besides her passion for painting, Hannagan said the 1Trip100Murals project would donate $100 of every mural to the Black Dog Institute, helping to expand treatment and diagnose mental health disorders.

The Mural Nomad grew up in Italy and studied at an art academy before travelling to Australia nearly a decade ago. Hannagan said when her schooling was nearing an end, she began selling her paintings to leave the country.

Through a school pen pal, Hannagan had a place to live in the Eastern States where she eventually became employed as an account manager before the COVID-19 pandemic.

But during the Brisbane floods, Hannagan and her husband’s rental developed uncontrollable mould so they decided to buy a 7m-long long van, deck it out as a portable home and travel the country.

Hannagan said the mural in Northampton represented the sunset on the coast of Horrocks because the two towns shared ambulance services. Hannagan will paint a shipping container at Holland Street School in Geraldton.

“We went through a couple of options, but then we decided that what they trying to achieve with this mural is to bring more attention to the fact that they are here. And hopefully they hope to inspire new volunteers to join them because they’ve been severely understaffed since COVID,” she said.

Hannagan said she believed murals could really change the atmosphere of a space, and being surrounded by colours could contribute to a better mood.

“It doesn’t have to be a perfect storytelling mural, it’s just the fact that when you’re surrounded by pretty art, or just some spots of colour, that can really change your mood, and make you feel better,” she said.

For more information visit muralnomad.au.