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

Mike Maka Artist Biography - Flower Lips Canvas
Mike Maka Artist Biography - Carcass Alice
Mike Maka Artist Biography - Ciggy Lips Mural
Mike Maka Artist Biography - Chameleon Mural

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


For a complete list of previous work contact me.


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