Gustavo

Leza Cullen

Over the course of four weeks, mural artist Gustavo led a transformative mural painting workshop with a group of young people with additional needs at Jets Studios Banyule. The results were nothing short of inspiring! The workshop was designed not just to teach the technical skills of mural art but to empower the young people to find and express their voices through a collaborative artistic process. From the very beginning, Gustavo's passion for both art and community engagement was evident. He approached the young people with respect and consideration, treating them as equal partners in the creative process. This approach fostered an environment where young people felt safe to share their ideas, explore new techniques, and ultimately contribute meaningfully to the mural’s design and execution. The workshop structure was well-balanced, blending instructional sessions with hands-on practice. Gustavo demonstrated various mural techniques, from sketching initial concepts queering young peoples values and imagery association as well as his fun and engagement tools (art dice!) Each week his workshops were tailored to meet the diverse skill levels within the group, ensuring that everyone, regardless of experience, could actively participate. One of the standout aspects of this workshop was how Gustavo encouraged participants to infuse their personal stories and community concerns into the mural. Through guided discussions and brainstorming sessions, the group identified themes that resonated with them, such as identity, resilience, and hope for the future. Gustavo skillfully wove these themes into the mural's narrative, resulting in a piece that was not only visually striking but also deeply meaningful. Ultimately naming the mural 'Peace, Love & Ukulele" Throughout the project, Gustavo was patient and attentive, providing individual feedback while encouraging collective decision-making. His ability to maintain a balance between guiding the young people and giving them autonomy was remarkable. This approach empowered the participants to take ownership of the project, which was reflected in their dedication and enthusiasm and ultimate great outcome! The final mural was a vibrant and dynamic representation of the voices of the young people involved. It stood as a testament to their creativity and the power of art as a medium for expression and social commentary. The sense of pride and accomplishment among the the group was felt amongst the group, with many expressing how the workshop had given them a new sense of confidence and a desire to continue exploring art. In conclusion, Gustavo’s four-week mural workshop was a great success. It not only provided the young people with valuable artistic skills but also gave them a platform to express their voices and connect with their community. Gustavo’s approach was both professional and compassionate, making this experience not just about creating art but about fostering growth, collaboration, and empowerment.

Brett Watson

Gus is great to work with. I've coordinated a number of programs with Gus and he is very professional, has great rapport with the young people we work with, is detail centred and an exceptional artist/graphic designer.

Stephanie Axiaq

We asked Gustavo to apply for our mural tender, he was great to communicate with, submitted on time and provide a detailed draft to brief.

Gabi Orosz

Gustavo was fantastic to work with. He facilitated a Social Justice Poster Making workshop for our youth participants. The process was excellent.  Gus’ input, using his design expertise and creative ideas really helped participants with their individual posters.  It was really valuable to achieve strong visuals and words for the poster designs.

Brihony Dawson

Such a great experience working with Gustavo. I booked him to perform live graffiti artworks during a couple of events of mine. The artworks were fabulous but so too was his communication and ability to be flexible and work within my budget and event parameters. I would recommend him to anyone and definitly book him again.

Cindy Francis

Our rural students were given a powerful experience with Gustavo who challenged their creativity to bend, shape and extend their design thinking strategies. This was an entertaining, easy to host and fun workshop for students. Gustavo was so energetic and engaging with Teachers also saying how impressive this workshop was and they gained valuable PD experience. Gustavo was a joy to work with, conscientous and respectful in every manner. We most highly recommend Gustavo for your next student workshop or even Teacher PD!

Sandra Lyczba

Gustavo was so easy to communicate with! He was super organised and was very collaborative in taking my ideas and especially the student ideas into mural design. The detail and thought process behind each idea reflected the school theme beautifully. His handwork was not unnoticed. Gustavo was super friendly and patient, the kids loved having him visit the school! He was also very positive and celebrated students making mistakes which created a very warm and welcoming environment for the students.

Matthew.sheldon M

I've had an amazing experience with Gustavo! I had a central theme for my mural (in a gym), which was to capture a positive community spirit, while including elements of fitness and weight lifting. I let Gustavo run with the idea, and I'm glad that I did! The mural is vibrant, fun and uplifting, which has brought a great vibe to the space. Gustavo was a pleasure to work with, he is very professional and passionate with his art. I love his style, and I would book him again in the future if the opportunity arises :)

Dorian Hodgess

At Bridge It we have engaged Gus to complete two large scale murals. We have been very pleased with the results of both pieces. Gus has been extremely responsive to the project briefs and has done excellent work with the young people we support. For the second mural we did with him there was a strong focus on the piece being codesigned by the young people we work with. Gus did an excellent job facilitating codesign sessions with the young people. Gus did a marvellous job in taking their ideas and putting together a cohesive piece of art that reflects their wants and that tells a story. The young people particularly like seeing characters they had suggested come to life in the piece. Gus is not only a talented artist, but also a skilled facilitator and communicator. Being responsive to project briefs and collaborating well with young people and other stakeholders is an important aspect of any creative project. Gus did this very well. I would recommend Gus for any work large or small scale.

Vivian Cooper

Gustavo was wonderful to work with. He developed a great workshop based on our current exhibition and the children who participated learned a range of new skills and responded well to the workshop content. Gustavo was able to maintain the group's attention and engagement in the program and both children and parents enjoyed the creative outcomes.

Judy Ryan

Our community group - Victoria Street Alive! - contracted Gustavo to run four street poster workshops for local youth in May 2022. We witnessed Gus leading the groups of attendees with flair, charisma and a passion for creating simple but powerful poster creations. Young people - aged 8 years to 18 years - were inspired by his enthusiasm, encouraging them to think about their key message in a way that impacted the viewer. Ten of the posters were pasted up in our local main street, prompting interest from mainstream and social media, and the broader community. Gus is friendly, fun and works very well with youth and adults alike. We highly recommend his work as a street posters expert/practitioner. Judy Ryan & Greg Hordacre Victoria Street Alive! Abbotsford Richmond - Victoria

Michelle Forbes

Gustavo was such a pleasure to work with. He took the time to really understood what we were after and the personality of the project. It was fascinating to see his creative process and we're so happy with the artwork and the brightness it adds to our environment.

Diana Cassar

We have been fortunate enough to come accords Gustavo and his amazing work while looking for a street artist to do a very special mural across our external house wall, facing the kids playground, for our daughter’s first birthday gift. Gustavo has created something so magical, that we simply couldn’t thank him enough. He recreated a russian fairy tale that relates back to my childhood days and even managed to incorporate our two kids into it as main characters. I have no doubt this magical piece of art will remain not only on our wall, but also deep in the hearts and sweet childhood memories of our children for a lifetime. Apart from being the most incredible and talented artist, Gustavo also is a true gentleman and a great person to be around. Highly recommended to anyone looking for a true artist at heart in every way…

Nathan Prins

Gus is an absolute champion and his artwork speaks for itself! He absolutely exceeded my expectations with what he created and was a dream to communicate with. Will definitely be using him again in the future!

Elysia Mitchell

We had a wonderful experience at DCC working with Gustavo. He supported our students authentically through the creative process helping them to create meaningful illustrations that came together in a stunning mural. He was patient and considerate of all students ensuring they had ownership of the artwork as well. It is a magnificent representation of our school values and whole school community!

Jenna Wilson

We booked Gustavo to paint mural at the entrance of our residential youth accommodation “The Cocoon”. Gustavo created an incredible design of a cocoon, caterpillars and 18 beautiful butterflies to represent each young woman who will be living in our Cocoon program. Our team were so impressed by the time, energy and passion that Gustavo committed to the project and the result was truly outstanding. The mural brings joy to every person who sees it and we are already thinking about new projects tha

I Belong Team

Not only is Gustavo an exceptionally good graphic designer, he is also an exceptionally good teacher of graphic design. He engages and inspires young people to dig deep and think creatively to produce their work. At RMIT we have witnessed the enthusiasm of school students working alongside Gustavo to produce meaningful messages through the medium of graphic design. School students in RMITs I Belong Equity Outreach Program rate workshops with Gustavo very highly, as do we.

Danny Pikler

Gus’s work is stunning. He is a true creative and always delivers. A pleasure to work with and no idea is too big or too small. Plus he is one of the more ethical people you will ever meet.

Christian Ferrante

Gustavo did an amazing job portraying our market community with his mural. Communication was clear throughout the painting process and we couldn't be happier with the result. With such a dynamic artistic style, our front fence will be treasured for years to come!