Belinda Walter, Producer of Creative Programs at Inner West Council, announced this week the final details of the public artwork that will adorn Norton Street, following more than a year of planning and consultations with Sydney’s Italian community.
The artwork, titled In Bocca al Lupo and created by artist Elliot Guerrisi-Watson, will undergo a significant change compared to the initial concept presented during the community consultation session in December 2024.
Council has decided not to use the main façade of the Chemist Warehouse at 111–121 Norton Street, as originally proposed, responding to community concerns about the presence of commercial signage on that wall.
Instead, the project will now extend to the wall of the building at 6 Wetherill Street, which faces the car park, as well as the two rooftop surfaces that were already part of the plan.
Over the past 12 months, Guerrisi-Watson has further developed the mural’s concept, embarking on what he describes as “a deeply personal exploration of his cultural heritage, tracing back to the artistic practice of his great-grandfather”.
The title In Bocca al Lupo (In the mouth of the wolf)—a common Italian idiomatic expression used to wish someone good luck when entering a risky or uncertain situation—carries multiple layers of meaning.
As the artist explains, the title evokes “the complex feelings and implications, fears, hope, anxiety and aspirations” that many people carry with them when leaving home to start a new life elsewhere.
One of the most evocative images in the concept is that of the Lloyd Triestino, the ship on which many older Italians travelled to Australia during the golden age of post-war mass migration.
“While the wolf represents a source of origin, as an emblem of the birth of Rome, this founding legend is itself a story of migration,” Guerrisi-Watson explains.
For the third wall, the artist chose to incorporate a personal element tied to his family’s craft heritage, using a bronze bust of his great-grandfather—an Italian-Australian sculptor—to highlight the continuity between past and present, interwoven with traditional good-luck charms.
“It serves as a contemporary contribution for young Italian Australians, reflecting the stories we carry through our lineage and the symbols and superstitions we pass on to future generations,” the artist says.
The design also features decorative motifs inspired by the Italian tricolour, creating a visual dialogue between tradition and contemporaneity.
Council is currently undertaking a three-week notification period for local residents, after which painting is scheduled to begin between February and March 2026.
Local businesses in the affected area can request a copy of the notification to display in their premises.
The project represents an important acknowledgment of the historical and cultural presence of the Italian community in Leichhardt, long regarded as the heart of Sydney’s Little Italy.
The public artwork adds to the many initiatives celebrating Italian heritage along Norton Street, where generations of Italians have built businesses and established a key cultural hub for the Italian diaspora in Australia.
With this mural, Sydney’s Italian-Australian community will gain a new visual symbol that celebrates not only its origins, but also the journey, transformations and cultural continuity that define the diaspora experience.
