Who Is Pam the Bird? New Details After Years of Vandalism
Many people around the world recognise Australia´s southern city Melbourne for its exciting street artwork along public walls and buildings. Our team at GraffitiGoneNow specialises in graffiti removal and has removed countless street art pieces during our years of operation. Thanks to this we have extensive knowledge of Melbourne graffiti artists, and today we will answer the question: Who is Pam the Bird?
The Clean Melbourne Graffiti Blitz initiative that the City of Melbourne initiated a few years ago has successfully removed about 80,000 square meters of graffiti, but despite all the efforts that Melbourne (and companies like us) make to remove graffiti, this artist grows and grows in popularity.
Pam the Bird has carved an exceptional path in their development as an urban artist. Their journey, starting from crafting small meaningful pieces, has transformed them into being Melbourne’s leading urban artist, sparking public interest—and the reaction of some enemies to their creative work.
Our specialised ability to remove urban art, combined with our dedication to protect Melbourne’s visual character, has enabled us to document Pam’s artistic development. Follow our upcoming exploration into Pam’s creative story and their artistic influences as we investigate what keeps their artwork controversial for Melbournians and their politics.
Related article: Best Graffiti Artist Melbourne 2025
The Beginnings: When Pam the Bird First Appeared
The artwork of Pam the Bird emerged from the hidden corners of Melbourne’s laneways where they first showcased their work. Small basic bird designs defined the first tags from early 2020. Bold-lined artwork, together with small texts, were the basic components of the first tags.
The reason for the early success of Pam the Bird was mainly due to the location of their first works. Art hidden in Melbourne’s narrow lanes and unnoticed walls established the mystery of today. The city’s graffiti community treated each new finding of Pam the Bird’s artwork as a small event after news about his or her work began to circulate.
The Evolution of Pam the Bird’s Style
Eventually Pam the Bird’s work started to transform. Simplified bird motifs developed, increasing in size and complexity, along with richer details. The artist Pam the Bird gradually brought bold backgrounds and strange landscapes into their work along with regular allusions to today’s social concerns and environmental challenges. Each creation serves as a narrative which smartly combines playful elements with profound concepts, appealing to different groups of people.
The evolution of Pam’s work includes their capacity to blend their art naturally throughout Melbourne’s cityscapes. When selecting sites for their work artists carefully examine locations while adapting their paintings to align with different surface textures, including crumbling brick walls, sleek concrete panels, and old wooden doors.
As he or she grew in popularity, with their works starting to grow in size, Pam the Bird became more and more a local controversial figure. The true identity of the artist remains elusive.
Flinders Street Clock Tower Graffiti: Pam The Bird’s Most Controversial Graffiti
Pam the Bird reached a controversial peak in their career when they painted on Melbourne’s Flinders Street Station clock tower in July 2024. The daring unauthorised graffiti gained them widespread recognition because it appeared at such an inaccessible height which left people wondering how on earth the artist managed to enter the protected area.
The public interpretation of Pam’s previous street art changed when this particular incident raised the debate. Most residents of Melbourne saw the graffiti as vandalism, since it disfigured an important heritage site in the city. Authorities made a major effort to remove the artwork which involved specialised abseiling teams and incurred expenses of over $25,000—hefty graffiti removal costs for the city of Melbourne.
Following this incident, city officials demanded harsher anti-graffiti laws while also calling for public assistance in catching offenders. The reactions against the act only helped the artist known as Pam the Bird obtain sure footing in Melbourne’s graffiti circles, while the police were not able to find who made the tag.
Who is Pam the Bird? The Mystery Behind the Artist Finally Revealed
Since the beginning of years Melbourne has faced an enduring mystery from the unidentified source behind the graffiti tag “Pam the Bird” which continues to appear throughout the city. Thomas “Tom” Varga became the key to solving the artist mystery after his recent arrest as a 32-year-old artist who operated in underground scenes but never faced association with Pam the Bird’s widespread graffiti tags before this incident.
Police arrested Varga through investigations conducted by the Victoria Police’s Graffiti Taskforce to track vandal activities at high-profile locations. A confidential source directed authorities to a Collingwood studio where they found bird-themed sketches, spray cans and stencils which perfectly matched the widespread street art in Melbourne.
Pam the Bird evolved beyond graffiti because it transformed into a rebellion symbol which debated the boundaries between street art and vandalism. For almost ten years Varga worked under anonymity until public disclosure as the creator behind the Pam the Bird street art series which he started to challenge traditional perceptions of public spaces in urban areas.
The public shows divided opinions about the property damage charges which Varga currently faces. Society divides into two opposing views about his actions since some admire him for his creativity yet others see his actions as destructive vandalism that leads to costly graffiti cleanup costs. The mystery of Pam the Bird ended by revealing its creator thus concluding a period that enthralled Melbourne’s street art heritage for numerous years.
The Novotel Hotel Graffiti: Varga’s Latest “Masterpiece”
Melbourne’s mysterious graffiti artist, Pam the Bird created new spectacular graffiti art on the facade of the Novotel Hotel at Melbourne´s South Wharf in January 2025. The black bird that identifies Pam the Bird’s art stands next to the humorous text, He He Meow. The artwork dominates the hotel’s modern exterior, drawing both praise and debate.
The artwork shows Pam the Bird’s evolution through its clear focus on whimsical elements together with sharp urban critiques. The playful imagery shines boldly from the Novotel’s clean architecture, forming a visual interplay between street art spontaneity and the city’s orderly nature.
This work has received mixed reviews; many people deny calling it a masterpiece. Opinions stand polarised. People either recognise it as meaningful artistic expression or condemn it as obvious public defacement. Reparation expenses for graffiti damage to the prominent Novotel building could be quite high.
Our analysis at GraffitiGoneNow suggests this removal operation will cost between $10,000 and $15,000, given the building’s height and surface requirements for specialised equipment. This evaluation of costs demonstrates how complex it is to clean the affected area without damaging the building’s exterior.
Hotel management is still deciding whether to actually keep the graffiti or eliminate it from their premises. Local officials are examining the scene while evaluating its place within Melbourne’s escalating graffiti phenomenon. The artwork created by Pam the Bird continues to push public art boundaries, generating discussion concerning artistic values, legal concerns, and urban trends.
Could You Spot Pam The Bird? The Hunt for Graffiti Tags Around the City
The unauthorised artwork of Pam the Bird continues to lead discussions and fascinate observers across Melbourne’s cityscape. GraffitiGoneNow’s team reviews urban artworks using a critical perspective instead of adopting the welcoming spirit art enthusiasts normally exhibit while locating them throughout the city. Our experience in graffiti cleanup allows us to understand the connection between artistic expression and unauthorized vandalism which damages public as well as private areas.
The bold artwork of Pam the Bird gains attention through examples which review the public reception surrounding her famous graffiti pieces.
West Gate Bridge
The West Gate Bridge became the canvas for Pam the Bird when their tag was boldly displayed on one of Melbourne’s central highway arterial routes. Thousands of commuters who travelled the West Gate Bridge were struck by the sight of strategically placed graffiti in an easily noticeable location. Through this action people saw the artist’s courage, it was clear how far they would go to imprint themselves on the city.
Uncle Toby´s Silo in West Footscray
Another significant piece was found on the heritage-listed Uncle Toby’s silo in West Footscray. A big tag decorated most of the silo which stands as a historic landmark in the community. People began questioning street art’s influence on historic landmarks following the appearance of graffiti on the structure.
The “Cheese Stick” Sculpture
Pam the Bird also targeted Melbourne’s notable “Cheese Stick” sculpture, a giant yellow roadside attraction over the CityLink in Parkville. Observers reacted differently to the tag on this unique public art—some called it innovative, while others recognised it as harmful defacement.
Clifton Hill Shot Tower
In another daring act, the historic Clifton Hill Shot Tower became the canvas for Pam the Bird’s graffiti, featuring the bold inscription, Pam the Bam. Melbourne’s heritage-recognised industrial-era structure sparked extensive debate after it received a controversial marking. Some people condemned the act as vandalism, while others valued the same rebellious energy which has established Pam The Bird’s artistic credentials.
The Comparisons to Banksy
Both artists Banksy and Pam the Bird share common traits: These two artists remain anonymous while exhibiting bold artwork that attracts widespread public captivation. Pam the Bird instals their artworks in bold locations, similar to Banksy´s approach, with examples like Flinders Street Station’s clock tower and the Novotel Hotel’s exterior. Public discourse and academic investigation revolve around their genuine identity which transforms their work into an unpreventable focus for discussion in artistic and general cultural spheres.
The minimalist designs from Banksy deliver powerful messages through stencilled artwork; Pam’s signature black bird presents itself with playful and suggestive communication. The straightforward design of their work enables their art to maintain visibility through the complex layers of city wall graffiti.
Final Thoughts: Pam The Bird – Art or Vandalism
Pam the Bird has established their presence throughout Melbourne’s cityscape through both actual and symbolic graffiti works. The work of Pam the Bird on both the West Gate Bridge and the Clifton Hill Shot Tower has produced strong mixed reactions that explore how we differentiate between art and vandalism. Melbourne’s street art enthusiasts praise Pam for adding to the city’s lively artistic scene, while some consider it vandalism that damages property and incurs expense from the public purse.
The cultural impact of graffiti in Melbourne is currently under negotiation while the city surveys its economic costs through the example of Pam the Bird which reveals street art as a transformative force against traditional social order. From our position at GraffitiGoneNow we take a stand with property owners and municipal authorities while we condemn graffiti vandalism and work to shield public areas from damage.
Let GraffitiGoneNow Protect Your Property
GraffitiGoneNow comprehends how graffiti harms property owners during both minor tagging incidents and major mural painting at historical sites. Our professional team knows really good how to remove graffiti and delivers secure graffiti removal solutions that bring back surface conditions without causing any additional harm. The experienced team at GraffitiGoneNow delivers safe graffiti removal techniques that recover your visible surfaces to their pristine appearance without causing damage.
Unauthorised graffiti should not affect your property´s value or disturb your community´s atmosphere. Reach out to GraffitiGoneNow now to access our quick and reliable professional graffiti cleaning services. Take advantage of our services to recover your property´s image and maintain Melbourne’s beautiful street environment.