Australian stencil painter and storyteller

About Geoff...

Geoff Cunningham is a Melbourne-based stencil artist creating original works inspired by memory, nostalgia and the stories attached to familiar places and moments.

Working with hand-cut stencils, aerosol and acrylic, his images draw on old family photographs, suburban streetscapes and the visual language of Australian life.

"I’m interested in the ordinary things that stay with us - milk bars, old pubs, music, old ads, pop culture and the places we grew up around. Although many of the images begin with my own memories, I don’t want the paintings to be purely autobiographical. The aim is to create something that feels familiar enough for people to bring their own stories to it.

The stencil process gives the work its graphic structure, but for me the image and the story always come first."

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What collectors ask about the work

What makes Geoff Cunningham’s stencil art different?

Geoff’s work combines hand-cut stencil techniques with a distinctly Australian visual language - suburban streets, beach culture, old signage, milk bars, retro packaging and everyday memories. The artworks feel familiar, but they are composed as clean, contemporary pieces for collectors.

Is this street art, pop art, or contemporary Australian art?

The work sits across all three. It uses stencil and aerosol techniques often associated with street art, the boldness and clarity of pop art, and subject matter drawn from Australian suburban life, memory and place.

Why does nostalgia appear so often in the work?

Nostalgia gives the paintings an emotional starting point. The images are not just about old objects or familiar places; they are about the feeling attached to them - childhood summers, road trips, corner shops, local streets and small shared rituals.

Who tends to collect this work?

Collectors are often drawn to the mix of craftsmanship, humour, memory and Australian subject matter. Some buy because a piece reminds them of a place or era; others connect with the stencil process, the colour, or the clean graphic style.

How should I choose the right piece?

Start with the image that gives you an immediate reaction. Then consider size, colour, subject and where the work will live. A good piece should hold your attention beyond the first hit of recognition.

Affordable Art Fair Melbourne 2026

Thank you Melbourne!

A brilliant four days of conversations, stories and new homes for many of my paintings.

View the 2026 Catalogue