Art in Transit

Art in Transit Whakatū/Nelson: Bus Shelters as a Community Canvases is a trail project that aims to revitalise the city by transforming bus stops into vibrant, engaging spaces that reflect the rich cultural history of the community. 

The first one to be installed is Stamps of Isel by Nelson artist Amy Adams.

If you’d like to give feedback – please click here!

The idea for this project began in 2023 while I was working as a designer at Speedy Signs, where I developed an interest in using bus stops as sites for community murals. The concept evolved further during my studies at NMIT, where I wrote my dissertation, Art in Transit Whakatū/Nelson: Bus Shelters as a Community Canvas, with support and mentorship from Make/Shift Spaces. 

The design process was grounded in the specific site, drawing inspiration from the distinctive trees of Isel Park and celebrating its notable collection of heritage species and the stories they hold.

Amy’s contribution to the project reflects this ethos, transforming a functional space into a welcoming and visually engaging point of connection for the community. The colourful design of stylised stamp-like panels celebrates some of the distinctive trees in Isel Park.

Each framed specimen is rendered as an icon of local identity – something to be noticed and cherished. Shifts in colour hint at the park’s changing seasons and light, reflecting its continual renewal. As a personal note from the artist, a peony is included, as her own expression of beauty and connection.

Stamps of Isel invites viewers to pause within their daily journeys and contemplate the presence of nature in shared urban spaces.

Amy Adams is an artist whose practice spans painting and mixed media, with a focus on creating vibrant, community-centred public art that fosters accessible, joyful experiences in shared spaces. Amy has a particular interest in tactical urbanism, placemaking, and public art intervention, using these approaches to reimagine everyday environments and invite new ways of engaging with them.

In 2025, Amy was selected to paint one of the electrical boxes as part of Make/Shift Spaces ArtWorks project. Flamboyant Flowers can be seen at 97 Bridge St, outside Godzilla Clothing. Another recent work is Rose-tinted Choices at 102 Milton Street as part of Arts Council Nelson’s Chorus Cabinet initiative. And for a fun little challenge, you can do an online puzzle of Rose-tinted Choices here – warning – it’s addictive!

If you want to read more, click here for info on Isel House & Park, and for the Isel Park Tree Walk.

Huge thanks to Nelson City Council and Speedy Signs for supporting this project.