Founder Calls for Evolution of Australia's Silo Art Movement Beyond Nostalgic Imagery

Shaun Hossack, founder and creative director of public art studio Juddy Roller, reflects on Australia's silo art movement he helped initiate. Hossack established the nation's first curated Silo Art Trail in 2015, connecting five Victorian towns, and has since overseen more than 45 silo art projects nationwide. While acknowledging the movement's success in attracting tourism to regional areas, he expresses concern about diminishing conceptual ambition. Hossack observes that many recent commissions favor familiar Australiana themes—native birds, livestock, historic trains, and farm machinery—which he views as reinforcing a narrow, nostalgic visual language. He attributes this trend to inadequate curatorial processes and community-led decision-making that prioritizes consensus over artistic innovation. Hossack advocates for greater artistic freedom, suggesting that silo art could incorporate abstract works, bold colors, geometric patterns, and First Nations perspectives to better engage younger generations and challenge conventional narratives. He emphasizes that while tourism benefits are valuable, public art should also inspire debate and introduce new ways of seeing. The article includes examples of silo artworks by artists such as Guido van Helten, Janne Birkner (Krimsone), Scott Nagy, Martin Ron, Matt Gorrick, Sam Bates (Smug), and Matt Adnate (Adnate), curated by Juddy Roller across Victoria and South Australia between 2016 and 2025.