Want to get to know the man behind the mural? Our latest collaboration with Sydney-based artist Michael Black has us all vibing with his vibrant designs, which he’s splashed all over three bespoke towels made just for us! (and you, if you buy one). 

But how did these designs come to fruition? We’re here to paint a portrait of the artist... 

Michael is an abstract art specialist who, as you can tell, is in love with colour and expressing himself. He’s a creative, working in Sydney who’s abstract murals and public art can be seen gracing his local walls and streets, alongside the art he paints in his studio practice - which is now a lot of commissions and canvas work.

“I became interested in street art from a young age, always seeing murals and public art as a big interest point and wondering how I could get into it myself.

I was lucky enough to meet some people in Sydney, some other artists, who gave me an insight into the industry which was quite interesting for me. Then I started off doing some myself and just kind of fell into it in a way”

“A desire to create and express myself through visual mediums that I’m using, so it could be spray paint, could be charcoal, could be pastels and let myself go into a piece and see where it goes, see where it leads is something I find really interesting. I think it also has a really beautiful visual appeal when you just sort of let yourself go into a space that you haven’t been in before, or there’s a composition or a texture element that’s new, is something that I’m really pursuing in my work currently.”
 

“I love Jenny Saville’s work, her portraiture, a lot of her intertwining of abstract medium and sort of realism is pretty amazing and I’m really inspired by her work.

A lot of other Sydney based street artists have had a lot of impact on me too, just building connections and eventually meeting them has been something that has really inspired me, especially as a younger artist.”

“With the collaboration with Dock & Bay I wanted to create three designs that brought life and beauty to everyone who interacted with it, so these three designs are created with the intent of that expressive, emotive passion that I wanted to connect with the product.
“I think when you see art, not in a traditional gallery space but put onto a product or put into a space that isn’t traditionally used, it can give the viewer or the person receiving that art a different experience. So having it on a towel, I'm so stoked about that, and to partner with Dock & Bay is just an amazing brand, amazing people, and has been a great experience.”

If you haven’t already, go check out Michael Black’s bespoke beach towels, designed by the man himself. They’re sure to paint the world a little brighter and add a splash of colour to the sand.