By ANNA USHER

A new council-commissioned mural has been unveiled inside the Vista Street car park stairwells, transforming one of the area’s busiest pedestrian access points with bold colour and graphic, playful design.

The work, by street artist Happy Decay (Bjarni Wark), spans more than 200 square metres across the multi-level stairwells used daily by shoppers, commuters and locals moving between the car park and the village precinct.

Wark said the aim was to rework a space that often feels stark and uninviting into something more engaging.

His design features a mix of shapes, patterns and characters intended to appeal across age groups, with a focus on “natural playful elements” that encourage curiosity and improve the experience of moving through the space.

Mosman Council said Vista Street is one of the suburb’s most highly utilised free car parks, used by people visiting local businesses and attending recreation and community activities.

“As part of the regular maintenance of this space, painting work in the form of a colourful mural has been completed on the wall at the entry and exit point to the car park, which is also visible outside along Vista Street,” Council said.

Council said the project also forms part of broader efforts to add visual vibrancy to key public spaces, improving “amenity, interest and safety.”

The total cost of the works was $14,700, which Council said included cleaning, repairs and painting.

The stairwell mural follows earlier public art at the site. In 2022, a large-scale botanical mural by artist Melanie Caple was installed near the car park entrance, featuring native flora including a NSW waratah, coastal banksia and Port Jackson fig leaves.