About Mike Maka
Mike Maka is a painter and multidisciplinary artist working across various media, including large-scale murals, canvas, illustration, and, more recently, sculptural commissions.
Mike moved to New York in his early 20’s, spending five years immersed in its vibrant art scene—a period that sparked a globe-trotting journey. His work has taken him across the world, from painting on the Berlin Wall to the banks of the River Ganges and deep into Australian Aboriginal communities.
His art explores a world where nature pushes back against humanity’s relentless expansion, reclaiming its place from an unsympathetic civilization. By focusing on the tension between human, animal, and machine, Maka delivers a powerful message—urging us to step beyond the concrete jungle and reconnect with nature, and with the wildness within ourselves.
A long time member of Everfresh Studio, Mike has exhibited extensively across Australia, with international shows in Brazil, Japan, Miami, and New York. His work is held in both private and public collections worldwide, including the National Gallery of Australia, the Sandrew Collection, the National Gallery of Victoria, and MONA Tasmania.
Although known to wander in other dimensions, Mike is based between New York City and Melbourne, Australia.
Solo Exhibitions
2024 ’Nature of Nature’ – Backwoods Gallery, Collingwood, Melbourne
2019 ’Hanging Gardens of Makatron’ – OTC Gallery, Collingwood, Melbourne
2013 ’Revolutions’ – The Tate Gallery, Glebe, Sydney
2012 ’Cycles’ – House of Bricks, Collingwood, Melbourne
2011 ‘Mother of Millions’ – No Vacancy Gallery, Federation Square, Melbourne
2010 ‘Makanikal Gardens’ – Hogan Gallery, Collingwood, Melbourne
Artist Residencies
2024 Q Bank gallery , 4 weeks residency, Queenstown Tasmania
2012 AWOA (A Word of Art ) , 4 weeks residency, Capetown, South Africa
Group Exhibitions + International Events
MONA Tasmania – MOFO Faux Mo Event Artist – Painting + Installations
Maldives Street Art Festival – Inaugural event participant + exhibition in National Gallery.
Miami Art Basel – 4 x Muralist, Wynwood Embassy Exhibition + Allapattah Uninhibited Collective
Mexico – Major Mural Playa del Carmen
Gold Coast Arts Centre – Large Scale mural on Exterior wall
City of Melbourne Greening Laneway Project – Featured Artist for 2 lanes
Release of Retrospective Book “In Ten Cities” 152 pages of colourful global adventures.
Everfresh Blackbook Launch Exhibition – Melbourne , Sydney + Tokyo
National Gallery of Australia – Space Invader Exhibition, acquired for Permanent Collection Acquisition. Live-Painting at event.
National Gallery of Victoria – Federation Square Melbourne, Everfresh Inaugural Exhibition in Project Space.
National Gallery of Victoria – ‘Board’ Skate Culture Exhibition
Outpost-Cockatoo Island , Sydney Harbour,Project Artist for event.
Benalla Wall to Wall Mural festival.
Semi-Permanent- 1000 Pound Bend – Group Show
Arnhem Land Yirrkala – Multiple Murals, integration projects with local Rirratjingu Elders.
Coffs Harbour November Reign – Mural Festival
Melbourne Zoo – Reptile Centre Mural.
Melbourne Airport -International Departure Immigration Hall Mural
Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia –3 story commissioned mural in a World Heritage zone.
Laneway Festival -Melbourne – Featured Live Mural Art
Rainbow Serpent Festival -Multiple Stages Decor Artist/Designer/ Gallery
Brazil
Essencia – 5 day event, Murals in all 4 zones and exhibition- Matilha Gallery, Sao Paulo.
Graffiti Vale Mural Festival – Paraibuna, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Flutu Arte – Floating Art – Project Artist – Urca, Botafogo, Rio de Janiero. Brazil
ACASA – Curitiba Brasil – Group Show
New York City – Major Mural Bedford Ave Williamsburg, Bushwick Collective + SuperChief Gallery Exhibitions Brooklyn.
New Jersey Savage Habbit Mural Zone
Singapore – Australian High Commission- Diplomatic Anniversary Gift of 50 murals
French Cable Series – Featured Artist on show ‘Seth Global Painter’
ARTE – German Documentary – Cities by the Sea Featured Artist.
No Vacancy Gallery Federation Square – 5 year Retrospective Exhibition.
Newcastle – ‘Off the Wall’ Street Art Festival.
Fringe Festival Group Show- This is Melbourne –- Bella Union Gallery
Madrid Spain 7 Deadly Sins Exhibition- Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Hungary Budapest –Millenáris Street Games.
Long View Winery Label Competition Winner – Adelaide Hills
In Too Deep Podcast with Jack Rowland - Listen to Episode 9 with Mike Makatron
Tom Gerrard’s Benchtalk Podcast - Listen to Episode 138 with Mike Makatron