Michael Fikaris (b. 1976 Melbourne, VIC) is an Australian artist, author, painter, illustrator, editor and collaborator. Initially a central figure in Melbourne's comic zine and street art movements of the early 2000s, Fikaris has developed a significant career, exhibiting internationally and locally with works held in public and private collections.
Enjoying outdoor painting from an early age their professional mural career began in 2003 with their favourite work being a 225m2 affirmation chart painted in Lees Place in the city of his hometown. The work is on a heritage listed building and has an all weather manifesto protector filled with printed booklets installed at street level to accompany the wall painting as an exhibition that is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. As well as working on public art festivals in UK, France, Timor and Australia they continue to enjoy improvising on urban surfaces and the outdoor gallery environment.
As an author and illustrator of graphic storytelling, highlights include works published with Kus Comics EU, SRY not Sorry (2022) and Glom Press AU, Check Points (2023), short pieces in literary journals The Lifted Brow and Meanjin, as well as with international publishers Pantheon US, Rescue Party and Strapazin CH, No.160. Prolifically exploring the comics format since the early 1990's, Michaels work in graphic storytelling moves between philosophical and biographical. He is currently working on a long format book for a North American publisher due for release in early 2028.
Michael is also an autonomous publisher and archivist who founded Silent Army Projects in 2011, a platform focused on collaborative, creative engagement. This dedication has seen him receive the national award for outstanding service to Australian comics, produce many publications as well as manage several international tours which have resulted in meaningful intercultural projects and connections.
At the heart of their practice, weather hired to paint a mural or present a talk, every opportunity is seen as a chance to foster connections with people and place.
Fikaris has exhibited in Belgium, Portugal, Catalonia and Indonesia and has work held in several major public collections, including the National Gallery of Victoria (Living Artists Collection), the State Library of Victoria (Artists’ Books Collection), and the National Gallery of Australia (Book Arts Collection).
“Michael Fikaris is a great worker... a remarkable innovator and scene setter… he’s really part of the materiality of Melbourne”.
- Smart Arts, Triple R FM Radio , Melbourne, 2023
“I deeply admire and respect the passion and energy Michael Fikaris pours into everything he does. He has always been generous of spirit and I feel an immense amount of gratitude to him for providing so many of us in the comic community with opportunities to have our work seen and read. These invitations continue to play an intrinsic role in supporting many creators in Australia and internationally to find a home for their work as well as fostering the confidence to pursue other publishing opportunities. Michael’s warm heart, welcoming presence and zest for creativity continues to inspire. He brings people together and he makes things happen. I am a huge fan of his work and I feel lucky to have created comics in a time with Michael Fikaris.”
- Mandy Ord. Cartoonist, Melbourne.
“Michael Fikaris is a person I regard as a mentor. He’s a spirit of great calmness and authenticity. I look up to him in many ways and seek to emulate his passion for community and belief on the power of drawing to unite people. I really admire Michael’s ability to work across mediums, communities and spaces. His ability to connect like minded creatives and kind people is legendary. He creates safe place and I admire his softness of friendship and his never ending drive to create. He’s made a huge impact on the creative community and is a person I very much respect and see as a leader in many creative sub cultures across Melbourne and around the world”.
- David Booth/ghostpatrol. Artist, Melbourne.
- Mandy Ord. Cartoonist, Melbourne.
“Michael Fikaris is a person I regard as a mentor. He’s a spirit of great calmness and authenticity. I look up to him in many ways and seek to emulate his passion for community and belief on the power of drawing to unite people. I really admire Michael’s ability to work across mediums, communities and spaces. His ability to connect like minded creatives and kind people is legendary. He creates safe place and I admire his softness of friendship and his never ending drive to create. He’s made a huge impact on the creative community and is a person I very much respect and see as a leader in many creative sub cultures across Melbourne and around the world”.
- David Booth/ghostpatrol. Artist, Melbourne.