Art on wheels: Deadly Alumni brightening Melbourne’s tram lines

Melbourne’s art trams showcase the creative work and culture of RMIT Deadly Alumni.

The Melbourne Art Trams Program brings colour and culture to the tram tracks of the CBD and beyond.

This year, it celebrates the work of First Nations artists, including Deadly Alumni Maree Clarke and Kelly Koumalatsos. Fellow Deadly Alumni and artist Gail Harradine was part of the curating team who selected the six unique designs on show this year.

The history of the art trams stretches back to 1978 when it was called Transporting Art. Since 2021, the program has focused on showcasing the works of First Nations artists.

Here, we meet the RMIT alum who created, designed or selected the works that feature on the 2025 art trams running on various tram lines until 2026.

Maree Clarke with her art tram, inspired by river reed necklaces. Image credit: James Morgan 2025.

Maree Clarke

Maree is a prolific artist whose work adorns many buildings across Melbourne and regional areas. Maree is a Mutti Mutti, Yorta Yorta, Boon Wurrung, Wemba Wemba woman who grew up near Mildura.

She studied a Master of Arts (Education) at RMIT in 2009. Maree opted to study “by project”, which allowed her to take a more practical approach to her master's degree.

As part of her studies at RMIT, Maree travelled to Banff, Canada to meet with other Indigenous artists.

“There was a whole bunch of Aboriginal students, but also non-Aboriginal students who came on the journey too, meeting other First Nations people and going to a pow wow,” Maree said.

“One of the highlights was [that] the musicians in the group had improvised music to myself and a couple of other artists painting. I'd never done anything like that before.”

Maree’s work for the Melbourne Arts Trams Program was inspired by indigenous jewellery, but it symbolises more than meets the eye.

“River reed necklaces were given to people passing through country as a sign of safe passage and friendship,” she said.

“So I've supersized them to 50 metre river reed necklaces to talk about the scale of loss of land, language and cultural practices.”

Maree’s artwork can be found on trams on Routes 48 and 109. Image credit: James Morgan 2025.

Gail Harradine

Gail is a Wotjobaluk, Djubagalk, Jadawadjali woman who studied a Master of Arts (Arts Management) in 2022 and is currently studying a PhD in Art at RMIT.

In her role as the Curatorial Manager at the Koorie Heritage Trust, Gail was approached to nominate artists for the Melbourne Arts Trams Projects. She selected First Nations artist Jennifer Mullett.

“I just immediately thought of Jennifer Mullett. The work that really stood out for me was one of her mono prints,” she said.

“Considering Jennifer has had a longstanding arts practise, I just felt that she hadn't had enough exposure out there with her work and she was one of the ones that have paved the way over time.”

Gail said the process of curating artwork for the program had allowed her to draw on her skills as both an artist and a curator, and also as a First Nations custodian.

“To have that real bond and learn about the different artworks that people put up and to work through a process of starting off with connecting with the artist and then making sure that they're happy with the information, the images, and the final outcome of the tram, and being able to represent your people - younger people, older people - in such a way is really important,” she said.

RISING 2025 First Peoples Melbourne Art Trams - Jennifer Mullet

Jennifer Mullet’s artwork was selected by Gail Harradine for the Art Trams Program. Image credit: James Morgan 2025.

Kelly Koumalatosos

Kelly is a Wemba Wemba and Wergaia woman and visual artist known for her skill in using possum skins and fur.

In 1999, she studied a Bachelor of Arts (Fine Art), and since then her work has gone on display at numerous spaces including the NGV and Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre.

Watch video profile of the artist

RISING 2025 First Peoples Melbourne Art Trams - Kelly Koumalatsos

Kelly’s artwork can be found on Routes 6 and 19. Image credit: James Morgan 2025.

Maree Clarke’s work is being featured in an exhibition at RMIT’s Design Hub until 20 September 2025. Visit the gallery to explore more of her work, as well as the work of other Deadly artists across RMIT’s student and alumni network.

Story: Kate Jones

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

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