Australian artist to transform Glasgow wall with huge mural

An Australian artist is set to transform a wall in Glasgow city centre with a new huge mural.

The new artwork, standing at roughly 1230 square metres, is being completed in the Merchant City, on the end of the new Social Hub building.

Themed by stories from local consultations, the art celebrates heritage, pride, culture, and change in the Merchant City, and will join the City Centre Mural Trail.

Commissioned by The Social Hub and delivered in partnership with Yardworks and the Merchant City and Trongate Community Council, the mural is titled Make Time For What Matters.

The mural has been made possible after support from Glasgow City Council’s Area Partnership and City Centre Mural Fund and is expected to be completed in the coming weeks, with more details on the public unveiling to follow.

Smug, originally from Australia but based in Glasgow, is widely recognised for his photorealistic murals, including the modern portrait of St Mungo, on High Street, now a local landmark and a highlight of the trail.

He said: “I’ve worked a lot in Merchant City over the years and have enjoyed adding new work. The new piece is rooted in local stories. Through a series of consultations in this area, the concept of the mural developed from a brief based on what came through: stories of heritage, community pride, culture and change.

“It’s always a balance, making sure everyone’s voices are represented while still creating something visually powerful. I’ve tried to reflect something powerfully honest and bold – something that feels like Glasgow. If it sparks a moment of reflection or conversation, then I feel this has been achieved.

“The opportunities I’ve had here have been foundational in my career. It’s nice to have the chance to add something of this monumental scale now, to contribute again and bring something fresh to both the neighbourhood and the mural trail.

“It brings life to spaces people walk past every day. If someone pauses and feels something, has some sort of connection to the artwork, that’s powerful. When a mural tells a story or connects with its environment, it can be transformative.”

“Glasgow has always had a strong graffiti and street art culture. It’s raw, expressive, and usually speaks to what’s going on in society.

“My journey started with graffiti and is very much intertwined between the two subcultures. Murals build on that graffiti tradition but also offer a different kind of platform. They allow for bigger, bolder statements that can speak to a wide audience.

“Collaborations like this make space for storytelling. This one is a huge statement piece both in scale and subject matter, and I’m happy to be making it happen.”

Laura Frood, Creative Placemaking and Social Impact Lead, SWG3, commented: “We’ve loved this collaboration and the opportunity to work on a mural of such a significant scale. Graffiti and street art are a huge part of Glasgow’s cultural identity, and we’re always thrilled to be invited to lead innovative projects of world-class standard. From last year’s consultations, it was clear that the stories waiting to be told and the impact they could have are truly powerful.”

A spokesperson for Merchant City and Trongate Community Council said: “As an outward looking residents’ association we are pleased to have started the ball rolling on this project through Gary and Ros’ involvement and contacts. The mural sums up many of the attractions of this exciting and historic part of Scotland’s biggest city.“