Azzurro - Running His Own Race: The Vivid Public Worlds of Azzy Batic

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

Azzy’s relationship with art began early and loudly. As a child, he was endlessly imaginative, constantly drawing on anything available. Schoolbooks were covered in scribbles, and one infamous moment involved chalk drawings beneath a school building that left teachers debating whether his work was vandalism, graffiti, or simply play. He remembers giggling as they argued.

Growing up largely offline meant being immersed in picture books and storytelling. Artists and authors like Graeme Base, Roald Dahl, Lemony Snicket, and Where’s Wally shaped his visual imagination, alongside adventure video games. With just pencils and paper, Azzy sketched entire platform-style game worlds, characters leaping between levels collecting gems and coins. He also made comic books for his siblings, casting them all as superheroes and gently poking fun at parents and teachers.

These early creative experiments sparked a lifelong love of building busy, playful worlds full of detail and movement, a defining feature of his work today.

Azzurro - Australian National Maritime Museum

Artistic Influences

As he grew older, Azzy’s influences sharpened. He was drawn to the bold confidence of Roy Lichtenstein, the strong sense of place in Hiroshi Nagai’s work, and the industrious, design-driven thinking of Andy Warhol. Together, these influences helped shape an art style that feels both joyful and intentional.

When Passion Became Purpose

Azzy didn’t fully recognise art as his calling until Year 12, when he studied street art and graffiti for his research project. The work took him beyond the classroom and into meetings with gallery owners, public artists, vandals, and council officials, all in an effort to understand what separates celebrated public art from vandalism.

Although the project earned state merit, its real impact came afterward. Azzy remained immersed in the public art world, eventually becoming a key figure in his local scene. His murals now form part of everyday environments, from shopping centres to schools. Today, he’s often contacted by students and teachers researching public art themselves, something he finds deeply fulfilling.

Artistic Style

Azzy describes his style simply: flat, vibrant colour encased in slick, simple lines. It sits comfortably between whimsy and sophistication, balancing playfulness with precision.

Azzurro - Tic Toc Home Loans Mural

Creative Process

When given a wall, Azzy usually sees the finished image almost immediately. He begins with a tiny, rough pencil sketch he calls the “skeleton,” often drawn on whatever is nearby. Drawing small, he finds, helps ideas translate cleanly when scaled up.

That sketch is photographed and taken into a digital workspace, traced loosely, coloured intuitively, and then locked in with a final outline. On site, the process repeats. He quickly scratches the skeleton onto the wall, then spends days layering flat colour. One passer-by once described this stage as looking like “mushy Froot Loops.”

The final step is his favourite: applying crisp black outlines with a fine brush or paint pen in single, confident strokes. It’s here that the work truly comes alive. Once Azzy packs up and leaves, the artwork begins its own relationship with the public.

Favourite Mediums and Techniques

Azzy’s practice is driven by a desire to bring the clarity and perfection of digital design into the physical world. He favours fast-drying matte acrylics, square flat brushes, and thick paint pens, tools that allow for sharp edges and clean finishes.

He avoids mixing and blending, instead working from a trusted palette of around sixteen core colours he’s used since his earliest paintings. This consistency allows him to visualise a finished piece even at the sketch stage and makes long-term maintenance and touch-ups effortless.

Artistic Journey and Inspiration

For ten years, Azzy celebrated his birthday with solo diving trips to the Great Barrier Reef, drawing inspiration from its colour and otherworldliness. A pivotal shift came in 2020 after swimming with Giant Australian Cuttlefish in the cold waters of Whyalla. That experience sparked a deeper focus on South Australian marine life and a desire to help locals form stronger connections with their own environment.

This direction led to collaborations and exhibitions centred on marine conservation and storytelling, transforming his work from pure play into advocacy with purpose.

Notable Projects and Exhibitions

One of Azzy’s proudest achievements is his body of work along Jetty Road in Brighton, South Australia. Living and working in the area, he created murals across eight venues, effectively turning the street into a walking gallery. He hosted free tours for the public and politicians alike, often between snorkelling sessions at the local beach.

The project allowed him to build an entire visual mythos around the area and observe firsthand how people interacted with art woven into daily life. It also expanded his practice into placemaking and cultural infrastructure.

A particularly memorable exhibition involved a climate change show across three storeys with 40 artists. During the opening, Azzy revealed what he called “the most powerful weapon in the world,” dramatically unveiling a real cow’s tongue to a shocked and captivated audience. The moment was unforgettable, and the message unmistakable.

Azzurro - Airlie Beach

Challenges and Growth

Public art, Azzy notes, is rarely straightforward. It requires diplomacy, persistence, and the confidence to navigate complex layers of landlords, councils, and government departments. Knowing when to push, when to ask forgiveness, and when to listen is essential. Ironically, the painting itself is the simplest part.

Audience Connection

Azzy hopes his work creates a sense of legitimacy that enables ambition. By visibly enjoying his own practice, he wants others to feel encouraged to explore theirs. He hopes young creatives see that an extraordinary artistic life is possible, and that viewers feel curiosity, anticipation, and delight as they move through spaces shaped by art.

Future Plans and Goals

Now based in the Whitsundays, Azzy is embracing the challenge of starting fresh in a new community. He’s eager to contribute new public works to the region, collaborate with local artists, and continue exploring digital presentation alongside large-scale murals.

He’s particularly excited to return to CCW’s Great Barrier Reef Festival Art Exhibition, building on last year’s experience and pushing his ideas further.

Advice for Aspiring Artists

Azzy’s advice is direct: don’t look left, don’t look right. Run your own race.

Looking back, he holds close the words of fellow artist Sue Norman, who reminded him that great things are always coming. A life devoted to art guarantees moments of joy, success, and transformation. Learning to believe in yourself, and your work, is the real superpower.

You can view more of Azzy’s artwork at www.azzy.au.