Melbourne Art Trams
Melbourne is undoubtedly Australia’s capital of the arts. Each year the city’s iconic trams combine with the city’s vibrant arts scene in a travelling exhibition of local artists.
The Melbourne Art Trams program has a storied history, born out of the desire to merge art with everyday life. It reflects the city’s commitment to fostering creativity and community spirit. Since its inception in 1978, the program has transformed our most famous icons into moving canvases, bringing art to the streets to make it accessible to everyone.
Formerly known as Transporting Arts, the first iteration of the program ran from 1978 to 1993. During this time over 30 trams were adorned with the works of prominent local artists, turning them into roving artworks and conversation starters for millions of passengers.
After a two-decade break, it came back to life in 2013 as part of the Melbourne Festival, marking a new era for the program.
The selected works are as diverse as the city itself – bold, abstract, intricate, and narrative-driven. They reflect the deep cultural landscape of Melbourne.
Discover more about the 2024 artists below and explore the stories and inspirations behind this year’s collection.
Let’s continue to support, celebrate, and recognise the incredible talent that makes our city unique.
The 2024 Program
The 2024 collection – a partnership between Yarra Trams, Creative Victoria, Department of Transport and Planning, and RISING – showcases Victoria’s First Peoples. The six trams honour the profound cultural heritage, connection to land and community, and the voices of First Nations Australians.
This year, tribute trams featuring works from trailblazing artists Destiny Deacon and Ellen José roll out alongside new works. Jarra Karalinar Steel (Boonwurrung/Wemba Wemba) returns to curate the program for her final season.
Find more out more.
Destiny Deacon – Ku Ku/Erub Mer
Artwork title – Arrears Window
Tram #5012
Routes 6, 19
Arrears windows from the “Gazette” series of digital photographs created in 2009, offers an intimate glimpse into the lives of Melbourne’s public housing tower residents. Through evocative imagery, Deacon’s arrangement of black and brown dolls in yellow plastic tubs highlights the individual narratives and struggles within these communities. It prompts viewers to confront the often- overlooked challenges and overcrowded conditions faced by residents, fostering empathy for their experiences.
Milla Morgan – Wiradjuri/Yorta Yorta
Artwork title – I just wanted to say sorry
Tram #5002
Routes 6, 19
“I just wanted to say sorry is a work of reflection, an honest and true representation of what First Nations art looks like, an attempt to reframe one’s perception of what is expected. First Nations art can take all different forms and the only prerequisite for art to be considered Aboriginal art is for it to be made by someone Aboriginal. As well as creating reflection for my white peers, I also made it for mob and mob connecting through shared understanding of life alongside our allies.”
Kait James – Wadawurrung
Artwork title – Hung out to dry
Tram #2017
Routes 3, 64, 67
“As a proud Wadawurrung woman, my work challenges colonial narratives and celebrates cultural complexities. This work, Hung out to dry, features a compilation of my embroidered works from the past five years. Using reclaimed Aboriginal calendar tea towels from the '70s and '80s, I subvert stereotypes with pop culture references, Blak humour, text, and vivid colours. I’ve highlighted key images to make a statement on the challenges facing First Nations People and provoke reflections on identity, perception, and the enduring resilience of Indigenous heritage.”
Iluka Sax-Williams – Taungurung
Artwork title – Kulin Woora Liwik—Kulin Sky Ancestors
Tram #236
Routes 70, 75
“Our ancestors’ essence flows through our vast land, deep waters, and up into the boundless atmosphere. The high country and rushing rivers hold our rich history and knowledge, revealing stories throughout one’s journey. Listen to nature’s infinite Songlines, spoken by our ancestors through the winds. Their essence passes through us daily, connecting us to the Dreaming and enhancing our perception of the world. Look to the stars; ancestors are always with us, shining as beacons to light the path forward.”
Thomas Day – Gunditjmara/Yorta Yorta/Wemba Wemba
Artwork title – Karween Mooroops (Dancing Spirits)
Tram #3532
Routes 5, 6, 16, 72
“My work Karween Mooroops (Dancing Spirits) offers a viewpoint through my lens, the cultural lens. We don’t see the world through the view of reality, we see it as it was during the beginning, the time of creation. The ethereal, the timelessness, when we leave the physical world, we return home to the spirit world and will dance with all of those who are waiting our return. Our essence is infinite, our song is sung across country forever.”
Ellen José – Torres Strait Islander
Artwork title – Reach out and touch – distance and time
Tram #3023
Routes 109, 48
“Reach out and touch – distance and time emphasises the enduring impact of war on everyone involved, not just those on the frontlines but also their partners, children, families and friends back home.
Showcased in the 1992 exhibition ‘Black Digger Ghost Fighter’, this work highlights the 50th Anniversary of the Kokoda campaign in New Guinea. Through truth, lived experiences and themes like memory, yearning, regret, and the Torres Strait culture, the series vividly depicts the immediate and long-lasting toll of war on individuals and communities alike.”