Artists of 2204 - OxKing

The Art of Storytelling and OxKing's Mural that Captured Marrickville's Heart

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For OxKing, art was always part of life, but it wasn’t until he began painting murals that his passion truly clicked. “I’ve been interested in art all my life, after high school, I studied film and animation at the Sydney College of the Arts, but I moved into painting and illustration after graduation.”

Hestia’s Migration

Despite dabbling in different mediums, his love for painting murals blossomed when he started working on walls with friends. “Nothing really clicked until I started painting walls. Since then, I’ve been in love with it.”

The name OxKing has its own unique origins, drawn from a desire for something simple, yet symbolic. “It mainly comes from wanting to go by something straightforward, so I landed on OX. When I started painting letters, I needed a longer name, so I took it from a character in the Dragon Ball cartoon I watched as a kid.”

One of OxKing’s most iconic works is Hestia’s Migration, a mural he completed in 2021 to commemorate the renaming of the area around Marrickville’s Alex Trevallion Plaza as “Little Greece.” Situated on the corner of Silver Street and Marrickville Lane, the mural celebrates the anniversary of Greek independence and the migrant story. Commissioned as part of the Inner West Council’s Perfect Match program, OxKing collaborated with the local Greek community to understand their history and incorporate their stories into the mural.

Greek community celebrate with Hestia

“Hestia, the goddess of Hearth and Home, is the central figure. In my fictional interpretation, she steps down from Mount Olympus and emigrates to Australia, becoming the goddess of Little Greece and watching over the families of Marrickville.” Surrounding Hestia are elements inspired by local stories, representing the broader Australian migrant experience.

The reaction from the local community was overwhelming. “People came up to me to talk about the elements they recognised in the mural and what it meant to them, many older residents, especially those who immigrated in the 1960s, were deeply moved by the representation of their culture in a community they helped build.”

Creating a mural of this size came with its challenges. Spanning an entire wall, Hestia’s Migration took three weeks to complete.  Luckily, the weather gods were on his side for the duration. Using a traditional grid system, he transferred the design from his concept drawing (which can now be seen on bins along Marrickville Road) to the massive wall. When talking about taking on a project of this size, his advice - “It’s all about sticking to the plan and painting section by section. It’s a lot of boring math.”

Greek community posing with Hestia's Migration

Despite some logistical hurdles, such as operating a boom lift in a narrow laneway bustling with delivery trucks and garbage pickups, OxKing found the experience rewarding. “You just have to be patient when you’re working in the streets.”

One prominent detail of the mural is the phrase "Freedom (1821) or Death," a reference to the Greek War of Independence. “It was the 200th anniversary of the war when I painted the mural, and that motto became a symbol of the revolution.”

For OxKing, the project wasn’t just a commission; it was deeply personal. Having lived in Marrickville for many years, the area holds special meaning to him. “A lot of the artists I knew had studios there, and it was a great environment to be creative.” Now based in Wolli Creek, just a short drive away, he remains connected to the vibrant Marrickville community.

Looking ahead, OxKing has several exciting projects on the horizon. “I’m working with the new GREENWAY development near Stanmore later this year, and I’m always on the lookout for more walls to paint.” His passion for mural art continues to thrive, and he invites anyone with a blank wall in need of colour to reach out.

For more information, you can contact OxKing through his website at www.oxking.com.au or email him directly at ox@oxking.com