Home is where the ‘art’ is for Newtown locals Sara Palmieri and Darryl Hughes.
The eye-catching mural on the street side of their recently listed Alice St home was created by Ms Palmieri’s street artist brother, ‘Krispe.’
Onlookers, walking tours and groups of kids all come to marvel and take photos of the ‘Krispe’ mural. It has previously been a blank wall before Ms Palmieri gave her brother full reign over the wall to turn it into art.
“It was my brother’s idea, he just wanted a big canvas so we let him go nuts,” Ms Palmieri said.
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Street artist Krispe standing in front of his mural with his sister and owner Sara Palmieri and her husband Darryl Hughes. Picture: Sam Ruttyn
The street art is one of a growing number of works now adorning residential buildings across much of the inner west and other inner Sydney areas, with experts revealing the art had become a popular selling point for homeowners.
The works have also become a popular way to connect residents and they’re known to ward off graffiti as vandals seldom tag walls adorned with art.
Ms Palmieri said she loved having a mural as part of her property.
“It brings joy to so many people and I love it because it’s a really fun art work, it’s not serious or political, it makes me smile,” she said.
Sara loved that the artwork was fun and not serious and brought joy to others. Picture: Sam Ruttyn
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“When I was working from home, especially in covid, I’d have my desk at the window and the number of people that would come by and take photos of it, lots of kids would come in groups and say ‘it’s the Krispe wall!’
“I just love that people want to take photos of my house.”
Decorated with his statement monster cartoons, the ‘Krispe’ characters are recognisable to many Sydney-siders.
On the street side of 105 Alice St Newtown is the ‘Krispe’ mural, that onlookers love, according to owner Ms Palmieri.
“He is renowned for his stickers of his little characters and sells them online, so you would see them all around,” she said. “People stick those stickers everywhere so (the mural) was really bringing those characters to life.”
Krispe said he loved creating his signature monster stickers, and “couldn’t resist the chance of a blank canvas to create a great big hub for the character to live.”
The street art was created in collaboration with fellow artist Edo Rath.
It’s not unusual for creative murals to decorate and bring life to the streets and laneways around the Inner West, which has over 170 street artworks, according to the inner west council.
Property owner’s didn’t need to have an artist in the family to have their own unique mural with the inner west council’s Perfect Match Street Art program.
Art on Inner west properties commissioned by Perfect Match Street Art program: White Plumed Honey Eater by Thomas Jackson, 2023 (95 Curtis Road, Balmain)
Inner West property owners that have a blank wall that is publicly viewable and street facing can apply to be considered and have a local artist create an artwork that is fully commissioned by council.
“Each year, property owners are invited to find their ‘perfect match’ by nominating their wall to be transformed by an artist. Artists submit their portfolios, designs and ideas. Council then ‘plays cupid’ to match artists with sites and owners and facilitates the practicalities of making the final work,” said a council spokesperson.
“The program has been embraced by residents and artists alike and has become an important way to foster creative expression and community engagement with art in local neighbourhoods.”
Goal! by Lotte Alexis, 2021 (404 Young Street, Annandale) commissioned through the Perfect Match inner west council program.
The program also aims to reduce unwanted and illegal tagging and graffiti.
Listing agent and property partner David Barndon, recent addition to The Agency, is a Newtown local and said street art is a big part of the Inner West culture.
“It really highlights the artistic side of Newtown and the Inner West,” he said.
“(Street art murals) are quite popular in this whole area, there’s walking tours that come by, people photograph the area and this one in particular is in a prime position.
Ms Palmieri loved her brothers artwork on her home, but also love the federation details, the backyard and the suburb. Picture: Sam Ruttyn
“Some people really love murals, so it is a selling point.”
Although the ‘Krispe’ mural was the main attraction of 105 Alice St, Ms Palmieri also loved the large backyard, proximity to King St and Enmore Rd, the freestanding aspect, Federation ornate details, large parks and dog friendly neighbourhood.
She even added a “doggie street library” filled with dog toys, so locals would swap and add dog toys for local dog owners to use.
The home at 105 Alice St Newtown has a price guide of $1.6m heading to auction 28 September 2024.
Inside the Newtown home.
Mr Palmieri and Mr Hughes were sad to say goodbye to their Newtown digs, along with its unique mural, but were looking forward to purchasing a caravan and travelling around the country.
The home is up for auction on the 28th of September with a $1.6m price guide.
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