Creative Women Transforming Frankston’s streets and laneways – featuring Jasmine Crisp

Every year on March 8, International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated globally, recognising the incredible contributions of women and girls to their communities.

With the upcoming Frankston Street Art Festival returning for its 8th year from March 17–23, we’re shining a light on the powerful role women play in shaping the city’s colourful transformation and building Frankston’s reputation as a street art destination.



Celebrating Women in Street Art

Frankston has long been a canvas for female artists of national and international acclaim, and we want to honour those who have played a key role in shaping the city’s street art movement to date. Artists such as Lucy Bonnin, Loretta Lizzio, Lucy Lucy, Abbey Rich, Melanie Caple, Wina Jie, Maxine Gigliotti, Bronik, Tinky, Vexta and Melbourne’s Murals have left a lasting legacy, telling stories through self-portraits, abstract forms, and vibrant depictions of nature and childhood memories.

With street art fostering community pride, inclusion, and belonging, we’re thrilled to welcome Jasmine Crisp and Candela Colors in 2025, who along with seven  other talented artists will push the city’s street art tally to over 100 works during the Festival.

Spotlight on Jasmine Crisp

First up we’re featuring Jasmine Crisp, an acclaimed painter and muralist from Adelaide, South Australia. Spending time with Jasmine, we asked her some questions about her art journey, where she draws inspiration and the value she sees in creating art for the people. Here’s what she had to say…

How did your journey in street art begin? Can you tell us about your style?

As someone with an art school (not graffiti) background I don’t use the term ‘street art’ and I consider murals as an extension of my pre-existing painting practice. I also therefore don’t refer to or abide by a ‘style’, instead preferring to introduce myself as a painter, focusing on narrative-driven representational paintings of semi-fantasised environments and figures that draw directly from my lived experience. I started painting my own small walls as well as working as an assistant on large scale murals in 2019, then beginning my first ‘real’ solo commissions in 2020.

What artwork are you most proud of, in which city does it reside?

As all the works I have made reference different stories, people and emotive content from my own life, they’re valuable to me for very different reasons. However I think my most successful recent work was my first large scale still-life painting that I produced for LOOKUP Portsmouth in the UK last year.

Tell us about what it's like being a Woman in the street art industry?

 I’d like to be treated as an artist and not by my gender, as I’m sure all artists would most desire. Unfortunately societally I do experience consistent mistreatment from the public as well as from fellow artists and/or commissioners/industry. I have to work harder to be taken seriously, I experience age bias, doubt on my expertise, assumptions that I will be difficult to work with, assumptions that I cannot facilitate high-risk equipment, and general undermining of my intelligence and capability. I am either overlooked or asked to be photographed/promoted in ways that male artists are not asked. I am often pigeonholed as a ‘female artist’ when other artists are not gender referred, despite the fact that I do not create specifically political or gender based artwork, and I do not invite focus on my gender.

What do you think street art ‘gives’ to a city?

Different cities, countries and cultures respond to, or value public art in many different ways, whether its from an ancient tradition or it’s simply contemporary space activation. I can’t personally determine what artwork does for a whole city, but I do believe that access to/demonstrations of high quality artwork in public space can be integral in identity formation and cultural progress that exists on a platform, which can perform differently to advertising or architecture/nature in a way that excites me.

The line-up for this year is looking fantastic. Who are you looking forward to seeing create?

Everyone of course! Each person has something different to offer and I haven’t met any of the other artists on the lineup before, a bonus for me, I love meeting new artists! I’m admittedly particularly excited for Aleks Grilz and Guiro as they’re both artists that I’ve followed for a while and that also work in detailed and painterly approaches.

What do you love about Frankston as a destination for street art?

As someone who’s invested in the public art realm in Australia, Frankston is a destination I’ve heard of for a long time, whether it through other artists or seeing the works that have been produced online. It will be my first time visiting Frankston for this festival so I really look forward to exploring the large collection of works by many painting legends over there.

What made you want to create art in Frankston?

Well as stated above I know I’ll be in excellent company, and that the reputation of the experience there has been very high. It’s an honour to be considered as another artist to create new work in this well known creative site.

Where is one place in the world you would most love to get your art?

Last year was my first year painting internationally and this was something that really set my heart on fire. I couldn’t reduce down to any specific place, but I enjoy seeing new places I never thought I’d visit or see before, and strongly hope to continue painting in different cities and countries around the world.

Who is your street art hero? Why?

My main muralist heroes when I was emerging into the industry have now become my friends and colleagues, but in the spirit of women’s day I will list a few of my current favourite female muralists, Helen Bur, Alba Fabre Sacristán, Marina Capdevila, Agus Rucula and Justine McAllister. Most of my inspiration actually comes from studio artists (aka artists that paint on canvas) as I try not to value public art as separate from any form of painting.

Jasmine is one of nine artists featuring in the 2025 Frankston Street Art Festival (17-23 March) – you can see her work on Park Row, Frankston – if you wander past during the week you may even be lucky enough to see Jasmine in action and continue our chat and learn more about her creation for Frankston.

Thank you to Jasmine for being part of this piece. You can read more about Jasmine here or visit her Instagram  @jasmine_crisp or Website. One the best ways to see the artwork is on the city’s award winning street art tours bookable now, running FREE on Friday to Sunday during the festival.

Make sure you head to the Block Party on Saturday 22 March from 4.30-10pm to celebrate the festival and artists.  Settle in for a drink, enjoy the live music and entertainment and book into a street art workshop (ideal for primary and secondary schoolers).

This International Women’s Day, dive into the fun, celebrate creativity and witness how these incredible women are painting a new, bold picture for Frankston.

#IWD2025 #AccelerateAction #FrankstonStreetArt #ImagineFrankston