Artist Louis Wayling Reimagines The Butler
Photography by Seung Rok Baek
The Butler, Potts Point
In celebration of Sydney’s Mardi Gras, Arts-Matter collaborated with Sydney-based contemporary artist Louis Wayling to reimagine the façade and front desk of The Butler with a commanding mural that captures the exuberance of the season - all while paying homage to the restaurant’s Mexican fare under Chef Amber Doig. Extending the partnership, Arts-Matter curated a selection of Wayling’s works within Juanita’s Bar, creating a seamless dialogue between art, architecture, and gastronomy. The result is a super-sized, site-specific celebration of colour, culture, and community.
Read below for our Q&A with Louis.
1. What piece of art has had the greatest impact on you and why?
When I was younger, Whiteley strongly shaped my art direction. The way he interpreted Sydney Harbour through expressive line, distortion, and atmosphere showed me that painting doesn’t have to replicate reality. His harbour scenes, figures, and still lifes felt personal and gestural rather than literal. His work gave me permission to exaggerate, simplify, and trust my own mark-making, which completely shifted how I approached painting.
2. Who is your art hero?
My art hero has always been Pablo Picasso. Possibly controversial, but growing up as a self-taught artist, I was drawn to how he constantly reinvented himself and challenged what painting could be. A quote that always stayed with me was, “It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.” That idea of unlearning and returning to instinct really shaped how I think about art. Later, discovering Jean-Michel Basquiat had a huge impact on me. His raw, fluid, expressive style broke rules and challenged the status quo in art history. He showed me that art doesn’t have to follow conventional standards. Seeing his work gave me confidence to experience and create art in my own way, without feeling confined by how it’s “supposed” to be perceived or taught.
3. What's your dream creative project?
My dream project is to go bigger and bigger — to paint a mural that covers an entire skyscraper. I’m drawn to the scale of it, transforming a whole building into a single artwork, something that completely shifts the way people experience a space. A mural that large wouldn’t just be seen, it would be lived with - becoming part of the city’s identity. The idea of pushing my work beyond the canvas and onto architecture, at a monumental scale, feels like the ultimate evolution of my practice.
4. Who's your dream creative collaborator?
Sticking with collaborations that align with my values is super important to me. I can't really pinpoint it, but my dream creative collaborator would be someone who thinks big and isn’t afraid to push the limitless boundaries of my potential.
5. What was the first piece of art you remember making?
The first piece of art I really remember making was when I was about 10 years old. I went camping with my family, and a group of family friends, and one of my mum’s friends (who was an art teacher) guided me through painting a landscape of the Pittwater. We spent hours observing the layers of the scene, talking about technique, light, and depth. It was the first time I remember truly studying what I was looking at rather than just drawing it. The following year, I entered a competition on Saturday Disney, and I won. My siblings were very envious. I’ll never forget the day I “called in sick” from school and came home just after midday to see a truck reversing down our driveway, delivering my prizes: thousands of dollars’ worth of toys and art equipment. That moment made everything feel real. It was the first time I thought, maybe I could do this, maybe this is my journey,
6. What is the best part about being an artist? And what is the most challenging?
The best part about being an artist is that it’s a constant journey of self-discovery. I'm always learning, not just about technique or ideas, but about myself. My Style changes with the notion of my headspace and where I am. Art teaches belief: belief in your vision, in your instincts, and in the idea that it will all come together somehow. Every high and low shape your character and deepen your work. The most challenging part is the uncertainty. When it rains, it pours - and there can be moments of doubt. You question whether it’s all going to work out. But I’ve learned to trust the process. Even in the in-between moments, when things feel unclear, I hold onto the belief that it will be okay... and somehow, every time, it generally is.
