Celebrated street artist Matt Adnate, in collaboration with Oxfam Australia and Juddy Roller have today proudly unveiled a powerful new mural in Fitzroy that captures urgent global themes of wealth inequality, concentrated economic power and collective empowerment. The mural launch coincides with the World Economic Forum in Davos and as new Oxfam analysis revealing average Australian billionaires' wealth grew by almost $600,000 a day in the last year alone.
Commissioned as a bold public statement, the mural presents two monumental portraits in deliberate visual dialogue. One depicts a suited elite businessman, rendered in a cold, dramatic palette to symbolise entrenched privilege, distance and the concentrated economic power enjoyed by a wealthy few. Opposite him stands a protester, an emblem of resilience and clarity of purpose, representing collective empowerment and the strength of people-powered movements challenging inequality and calling for tax justice.
This timely work underscores the core messages of Oxfam Australia's advocacy: that today's extreme levels of wealth concentration demand systemic change, equitable economic structures, and progressive tax policies to ensure those with the most pay what they owe.
Renowned for his large-scale portraiture and deep engagement with social issues, Matt Adnate brings his distinctive style and purpose to this project. Adnate's work has long used portraiture to capture the resilience, dignity and lived stories of individuals from diverse and often marginalised backgrounds, harnessing art's power to inspire reflection and positive social change. His murals, from Indigenous representation and cultural advocacy to community-centred public art, elevate under-represented voices and invite audiences into nuanced conversations about identity, agency and justice.
Matt Adnate, Mural artist said:
"This mural reflects the imbalance between extreme wealth and those calling for change. The man represents concentrated power, while the protester embodies the voices demanding fairness. 'Tax the super-rich' is a call to rethink how resources are shared in a more just world."
Sarah Rogan, Oxfam Australia Equality Campaign Lead, said:
"At a time when wealth and power are increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few, this mural reflects the growing call for equity, accountability and tax justice. As global elites gather in Davos, this artwork brings the conversation back to the streets, highlighting the urgent need to tackle extreme wealth inequality and ensure the richest pay their fair share of tax," she said.
Mural Details
Location: 264 Johnston St, Fitzroy
