Instagram story viewer> @jamesabugg> Tagged
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Documentary Photographer/Film Maker
Member of @oculi collective.
Australia
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Halfway through 2026 already! Grateful thoughts to everybody who helps to make my life so charmed. 

On my way to Europe tomorrow, keep it comin! 

1: @benallastreetartfestival 
2: My solo show opening night @adelaidecentralschool 
3: Bondi beach, Sydney.
4: Mural progress in Launceston, Tasmania
5: BTS @jackladder video by @conor_mercury_movies 
6: BALL PIT
7: Photo by @minnaleunig 
8: Hobart, Tasmania 
9: Sweating in the independence Palace, Ho Chi Minh
10: Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
11: how to get longer brushes 
12: Kind people letting me live in their pretty house 
13: Reading club in Adelaide CBD 
14: Queen Vic markets
15: Dandenong ranges 
16: Winter Soltice dinner
17: Plein air painting with @gemma.rose.brook in Belair
18: The Streets
19: hands free
20: Me leaving you via secret tunnel
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Last month I had the honor of being a part of @benallastreetartfestival. It was a joy and a bitch to tackle these deep bricks, on the biggest wall I’ve worked yet (though totally a tiny baby square footage in comparison to some of the more seasoned artists on the lineup - very impressive!). It well and truly was my first real professional mural gig (look at me mom!), and I could feel the imposter syndrome creeping in pretty hardcore before/during/after. To be surrounded by experienced and extremely talented muralists who do this often, and to be witnessed by hundreds of people while your painting goes from sketch to something tangible was such an edge. Though at the same time, it felt so natural to drop into the flow and do what I love to do. Paint.

Since moving to the area in 2022, Benalla has continued to surprise me with how cool and funky it, and it’s people are. The street art festival was just an added layer of dimension that made me proud to be a local. For the first 2 years, I admired from the sidelines and hoped “maybe next year”. I am very grateful that this time around, @simongrant accepted my application and (at least I feel like) took a chance on little old me. Idk why I’m writing like this its some sort of acceptance speech haha, but for real this was special and it felt like a pivotal moment in my art life. To be able to be a part of something so legit. I felt my younger self being proud, and that’s very cool. 

When you continue to pursue something with your head down ~ like chopping wood and carrying water ~ eventually you look up and realize that you’re getting somewhere. What was once a far fetched dream becomes normal, everyday reality. I guess I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge that. It can be so easy to just breeze past these things as the new normal, without taking a beat to recognize or celebrate the magnitude. I am very grateful for my friends stopping by to cheer me on, have a yarn, bring a chai, lend me the ladder and affirm that this was in fact, pretty fucking dope. 

Thanks for having me @benallastreetartfestival & @simongrant948 🌀

@jamesabugg 
@visitvictoria
@duluxaus
@mtnaustralia
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Dappled moments behind the scenes at @benallastreetartfestival 

Thanks @jamesabugg for the nice photos, again to @simongrant948 , the gentleman that handed me a rose on site at 8am, and no thanks to the candy machine at the pub 😭 @krimsone @kitsunejolene
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