Vibrant art collection for Fitzroy & Co. explores connection to place

The art collection for Fitzroy & Co speaks to two overarching themes developed from the history and context of the local area and the sense of community and the eclectic creativity that characterises the inner-north suburb of Fitzroy. Every work in the collection is by a Naarm/Melbourne-based artist, supporting and celebrating diverse local perspectives.

Our role

From the outset, our curatorial approach was guided by the idea of art as a connector — a way to ground the building in its context and to offer those who encounter it a sense of belonging. Working closely with the project team, we identified moments throughout the interiors where art could shape experience, creating thresholds, anchoring gathering spaces, and sparking moments for both reflection, joy, and curiosity.

Alongside the selection of key acquisition pieces, we commissioned a series of custom artworks, developed in direct response to the site. These include largescale stitched and sourced textiles by emerging artist Hannah Hall that echoes the textures of the northern subsurbs industrial textile past and histories embedded within repurposed garments, and the organic-shaped wall sculpture Merri Bound made by Benjamin Baldwin from hydroformed steel.

Elsewhere, large photographic print by beloved Melbourne duo The Huxleys captured just around the corner at the iconic 'Art Deco' McDonald's brings a sense of joy and playfulness to the record lounge.

The result

A collection that is at once diverse and cohesive — a tapestry of voices, mediums, and narratives that reflect the complexity of Naarm/Melbourne itself.

By embedding these works into the fabric of Fitzroy & Co., the collection transforms the building into a site of cultural resonance, where the city’s past and present are brought into conversation through the work of its artists.