Mr Day is undertaking a major new First Nations public artwork that will transform the Wangaratta Railway Station underpass, with work commencing on February 23.
Curated and produced by Melbourne-based public art and placemaking studio Juddy Roller, the large-scale mural will be created by the Yorta Yorta artist, reimagining the underpass as a vibrant, immersive and welcoming gateway into the city.
The project also marks a significant milestone in Mr Day’s artistic journey.
He first began working at scale while assisting internationally recognised portrait artist Adnate on a regional water tower project curated by Juddy Roller.
That opportunity led to a long-standing creative relationship, with Mr Day contributing to several major mural projects and studio works across Australia.
Now, the relationship has come full circle.
For the Wangaratta Railway Station project, Mr Day will lead the creative vision, with Adnate supporting the installation process, marking his transition from assistant to lead artist on a major public commission.
“It’s been incredible to watch Tommy grow over the years,” Adnate said.
“He first came on board to assist on a large-scale water tower project, and from the beginning, you could see his commitment to his artistic growth and to his culture.
“Seeing him now lead a major public artwork in his own Country, alongside other major works across Australia, is exactly what this work is about for me — creating pathways for the next generation of First Nations artists.
“I’m proud to support him as he continues to take the Australian art scene by storm.”
Mr Day said the project represented a full-circle moment for him.
“I was given my first opportunity to work at this scale through Juddy Roller and Adnate,” he said.
“To now be leading a major public artwork on Country, with that same support behind me, is incredibly meaningful.”
Spanning both sides of the underpass, the immersive artwork, titled Mirring Leerpeen (Country’s Song), draws inspiration from the colours, rhythms and landscapes of Country.
The design responds to themes of stations and travel, and local history, reflecting contemporary journeys through the precinct while acknowledging the deeper ancestral pathways that have shaped the region for thousands of years.
The work references the concept of songlines, ancient routes that trace movement, memory and connection across land.
Through flowing forms and bold colour, the mural evokes the experience of travel while grounding visitors in a strong sense of place.
“As people move through the underpass to begin or end their journey, the artwork is intended to remind them of the colours of home,” Mr Day said.
“The movement across the wall reflects travel across the landscape and Country, following a songline.
“In that spirit, the work becomes a point of origin, a place where journeys begin.”
As a Yorta Yorta artist with strong cultural and familial ties to the region, Mr Day’s approach is grounded in respectful collaboration with traditional owners and local elders, ensuring the artwork reflects community values and cultural integrity.
Juddy Roller founder and project curator Shaun Hossack said the project highlighted the importance of long-term investment in artists and regional opportunities.
“One of the most rewarding parts of this work is creating real career pathways for artists,” he said.
“Tommy started by assisting on a regional project and has grown into a powerful artist in his own right.
“Seeing that journey come full circle in Wangaratta is exactly what long-term investment in public art should do.”
Mr Hossack said the project also held personal significance.
“I grew up in Benalla, so being able to deliver meaningful public artworks across north-east Victoria will always be special to me,” he said.
“Transforming everyday infrastructure into something people connect with, not just visually, but emotionally, is the most rewarding thing we do.”
Juddy Roller, which has delivered major public art projects across Victoria and regional Australia, including the Wall to Wall Festival and Australia’s first Silo Art Trail in the Wimmera Mallee, is overseeing all aspects of project delivery.
The artwork builds on recent federal and Victorian government investment in the Wangaratta Railway Station precinct, helping ensure new infrastructure also delivers lasting cultural and community value.
State Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes said the artwork would make a fantastic addition to the revitalised station precinct.
“Having grown up just down the road in Benalla, I am proud to support projects like this that celebrate our local history and reflect the wider community’s vision for the space,” she said.
“Once complete, the mural will form part of Wangaratta’s growing public art network, enhancing the station precinct and offering residents and visitors a more engaging and culturally rich experience of the city.”
