Chairs

This playful yet thoughtful mural by Jae Criddle stretches along a quiet Hobart laneway, featuring a series of quirky, human figures perched on mismatched chairs. Painted in a restrained palette of soft greys, brick reds and muted blues, the characters appear both relaxed and slightly awkward – frozen in private moments of waiting, observing, and simply being.

Created in 2016 as part of Hobart’s Urban Art Walls program, Chairs references the history of the laneway and pays homage to Arthur Purdy, who once ran a second-hand furniture business nearby for nearly three decades. The antique chairs echo this past, while the expressive figures give the space a gentle, human presence.

There’s a quiet humour to the work – each character feels individual, yet connected, as if sharing the same street-side pause. Together, they transform the laneway into a place of reflection, inviting passersby to slow down, notice the details, and perhaps imagine the stories unfolding from each seat.