Starry Soul

Artist : Goya Torres

Sponsor: Miss Lucy - Izakaya - Bar and Japanese Restaurant

Location: Starry Soul is moving to Miss Lucy - Bar and Restaurant on 6 March 2024 as the resident Hello Koalas sculpture.

Description / Inspiration

Starry Soul's design reflects the traditions, heritage and identity of Port Macquarie Hastings region, from its Aboriginal heritage to contemporary culture, interweaved with a spiritual and natural lifestyle.

The residents of Port Macquarie are represented by the colourful and perfumed pink and yellow frangipanis which live in many local gardens. The rolling waves of the Pacific Ocean and the bright and startling 'starry nights' are also key aspects of Port Macquarie's relaxing lifestyle and temperate climate.

Artist Biography

Goya Torres is an established visual artist, muralist and illustrator based in Lake Macquarie in regional NSW, who creates artwork with bright colours and vivid characters in a figurative-surrealist style.

Artistically, Goya draws inspiration from her Mexican heritage, traditions and culture, as well as nature, street art and pop surrealism. She uses traditional media such as oils, pastels and pencils on canvas and paper, as well as spray paint and printmaking techniques.

Goya has worked in publishing, game art, mural and public art. She has exhibited interstate in Australia and internationally in Mexico, Latino-America, USA and Germany.

Goya participated in the 'Wild! Rhino' project organized by Taronga Zoo in 2014 when she painted a lifesize Rhino sculpture to raise awareness about Rhino extinction.

Goya created two one metre high Hello Koalas fibreglass sculptures in 2014 - 'Starry Soul' at Miss Lucy's Bar and Japanese Restaurant, Shop 3, 26 Clarence Street in the heart of Port Macquarie and 'Radiant Heart' which is based at the Hello Koalas Gallery & Gift Shop at Shop 16, 10 Bellbowrie Street, Port Macquarie, just 5 minutes away from Settlement City Shopping Centre. Open Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm.

Location Info

The new home for 'Starry Soul', designed and painted by artist Goya Torres, is Miss Lucy's Bar and Japanese Restaurant in the Garrison Building at Shop 3, 26 Clarence Street, Port Macquarie, directly opposite the Glasshouse Arts and Visitor Centre. Indoor dining and al fresco outdoor dining in the Glasshouse Forecourt is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 5pm to midnight. Special events are planned for some Sundays. Bookings are required to ensure ticketed seating. For more details: www.mryum.com/miss-lucy/menu www.facebook.com/IzakayaPortMac/ Ph: 0487 533 841 A number of Hello Koalas sculptures are nearby too including Port Macquarie Museum next door with Hello Koalas sculpture 'Forest' by local artist Pauline Roods and the Glasshouse's 'Lady Lola The Dancing Koala' and 'PK Sparkles' both by local artist Francessca O'Donnell.