Blender Studios

Blender Studios is West Melbourne’s home of creativity and community - and Dr. Adrian Doyle, or simply Doyle as he's more commonly known, is the visionary force behind it.

As an early innovator in Melbourne’s urban art scene, in 2001 the then 21-year-old Doyle created a space that transcends the conventional boundaries of a studio or gallery.

Today, Blender Studios holds an international reputation for its significant role in the urban art movement.

After seventeen years in Franklin Street, Blender Studios was compelled to move. The community shifted to West Melbourne, but the spirit and ethos remains the same.

"I created Blender Studios out of a genuine love for art and Melbourne’s street scene. To this day it still runs research in fine arts alongside the urban art movement, which is amazing."

Doyle is responsible for curating the diverse group of artists at the studio, with about twenty-four artists in residence at one time.

“We've had pretty much every major Melbourne street artist come through Blender Studios at some point, so a system of natural mentorship has built up.”

Imagine a place where renowned street artists like Rone, Lister, and Phibs once worked and shared knowledge with other creators.

Artists have to sign a pact to work hard. “There’s nothing worse than a studio that’s empty, so I really do push. If people don’t come in, then it’s an opportunity that someone else could use,” explains Doyle.

"Everyone who works or exhibits here ends up being part of the Blender Studios community. All of our studios are open, so there’s lots of collaboration and sharing of ideas. It might not be for everyone, but when it does work, it's totally awesome."

Blender Studios isn't confined to working studios. Doyle, with his crew at Blender Creatives, takes art to the people through painting murals, school holiday workshops and community engagement projects. Recent commissions include a large-scale mural on the corner of Errol and Queensberry Streets, North Melbourne.

“We want our art to tell stories, create conversations, and invite the community to be a part of the artistic process.”
Blender Studios also run the hugely popular Melbourne Street Art Tours. “We have about 40,000 people come on the tours each year and what makes us unique is that the tour guides are all working street artists.” The tour itineraries finish at Blender Studios so that visitors can see artists in the context of the works in the studio and in the gallery.

The West Melbourne site is also home to the Dark Horse Experiment, a research gallery showcasing unconventional and challenging artworks that defy commercial norms.

And if you want to immerse yourself in art even further? Doyle’s partner operates a five-star Airbnb comprising a private suite above the studio. At Blender Loft Accommodation, guests get unique behind-the-scenes insights into the place’s day-to-day workings and have the opportunity to meet the artists.

A man of boundless vision, Doyle is always on the lookout for his next creative project. So his next chapter is building an art resort in Thailand. “It will be a place where art and hospitality combine together, with a separate education arm,” he explains.

In the meantime, we can appreciate Doyle’s ever-evolving artistic vision shaping the streets of Melbourne.

Words by Joyce Watts & Photography by Anna Encio