After the Artists Leave: How Temporary Art Leaves Permanent Legacies

Since 2015, the Boon Arts Festival has transformed Kirikiriroa Hamilton’s walls and public spaces, delivering over 100 murals deeply connected to this whenua and the people who live or lived here. This book documents not just the bright colour splashed across the city’s streets and hidden corners, but the effect these artworks have on people’s connection to their environment, their sense of place, and how it gently shifts their daily lives.

Through interviews, storytelling, and reflection, this book traces the ripples of Boon’s legacy. It tells the story of the arts festival through stunning images of the murals, behind-the-scenes moments and stories, reflections from the artists who helped transform Hamilton’s streets into a living gallery. And importantly, the voices of the community.

The design of the book itself was to be an expression of the creative process of mural making: thoughtful, playful and unexpected. On the cover, the title, After the Artists Leave, frames a question — does a blank concrete wall say nothing, or does it whisper of poetic potential?

The book begins with a lot of black, reminding us of the public’s initial association of murals with the clandestine activity of graffiti. Slowly more light is introduced into the layouts as the murals emerge from the hidden lanes into the public domain, for everyone to enjoy.

The typography was inspired by the gestural mark-making of the ‘squiggle grid’, a method of scaling artwork to a wall. The energetic and painterly letter forms are incorporated into the text, creating a conversational, vibrant and diverse voice. The typography and imagery interact with each other uniquely on every spread, pushing into the margins and outer edges of the page, maximising the full canvas. On each page the quotes can equal or dwarf the scale of the murals, making the response as much a part of the story as the work itself.

This book sets out to uncover, curate and tell the hidden stories of the value of public art that are often heard but largely undocumented. The diverse voices in this book hold centre stage. From artists to board members, volunteers to building owners, and the everyday people who encounter these murals; they all celebrate how art in public spaces can reshape a city’s sense of self, influence how we use and value shared spaces, and help people feel seen, heard, and at home in Kirikiriroa.

This book invites reflection on the intrinsic value of public art and is rich evidence of the notion that while the work of the artists is finished, the effects are still unfolding. Long after the artists leave.