Australian Artists Invited To Respond To 120 Years Of Brisbane History

Mirvac and M&G Real Estate are inviting Australian artists via expression of interest to create a major new commissioned digital artwork for Brisbane’s Heritage Lanes office precinct, marking 120 years since the Brisbane Fruit and Produce Exchange first opened on the site.

In 1906, the Brisbane Fruit and Produce Exchange opened and became the heartbeat of Queensland’s food and trade network for more than half a century. In 2026, 120 years on, artists are invited to reflect on that layered history through a contemporary lens - responding to ideas of trade, movement, labour, community and renewal.

Located at 80 Ann Street in the heart of the Brisbane CBD, Heritage Lanes was developed by Mirvac and is co-owned by Mirvac and M&G Real Estate. The building brings together world-class architecture, curated retail and dining, and a strong focus on customer experience and cultural programming.

Mirvac’s CEO, Investment, Richard Seddon said the commission is about celebrating the history of an important Brisbane site while creating something distinctly contemporary.

“Heritage Lanes was designed as a workplace destination that engages people beyond the office. At the ground plane, the Brisbane Fruit and Produce Exchange was revitalised to create a curated, activated destination, making a positive contribution to the city and creating a lasting legacy for the Brisbane community to enjoy. This artwork will play a central role in telling the story of the site’s unique history.”

Alex Banzic, Head of Australia, M&G Real Estate said: “As co-owner of Heritage Lanes, M&G Real Estate is pleased to support a commission that recognises the site’s layered history while enriching the everyday cultural experience of those who work in and move through the precinct. This initiative reflects our focus as long-term investors on creating high-quality, resilient workplaces—assets that engage with their surrounding community, contribute to city lift and continue to evolve with the needs of occupiers and visitors.”

The commission centres on one of the most significant digital art environments in the country—a 232-square-metre, 16K resolution LED ceiling screen located in the building’s Level 1 lobby. Experienced daily by approximately 7,000 workers and visitors, the screen wraps the arrival experience in large-scale motion content, offering artists a rare opportunity to work at genuine architectural scale.

ART AID Australia has been engaged to lead the curatorial direction and artist selection process, working in close collaboration with Spacesuit&Co, the designers and technical operators of the Heritage Lanes screen environment. Together, ART AID Australia and Spacesuit&Co will support the selected artist from appointment through to delivery, ensuring the final work is both creatively resolved and technically outstanding.

Christopher Skyner, Public Art Consultant at ART AID Australia, said Heritage Lanes is a remarkable site with a genuinely compelling history, and the screen it houses is one of the most extraordinary digital canvases in the country.

“This is a rare opportunity for an artist to create work that will be experienced by thousands of people every day, in a place that sits at the intersection of Brisbane’s past and its future.”

Ben Gartland, Founder and Creative Director at Spacesuit&Co, said Spacesuit&Co is proud to collaborate on this commission.

“We are bringing our expertise in large-format digital art installations to support an artist in translating their idea into a powerful welcome experience. We’re looking for a concept with a strong visual identity - something that captures attention but also rewards it over time.”

The Expression of Interest is open to artists at all career stages and across a wide range of practices. Applicants do not need to be digital artists, with artists connected to Brisbane and South East Queensland particularly encouraged to apply.

Expressions of Interest are open now and close 5pm Friday 15 May 2026. The full brief is available at heritage-lanes.com.au.