Arthur “Ted” Powell, born in London in 1947, is a renowned artist and former advertising director whose creative journey landed him in South Melbourne, where I think he produced some of his best works.
From contributing to Beatles animation to reimagining Melbourne’s skyline through his art, Powell’s career captures the evolving spirit of the city.
From Beatles Animation to Advertising Mastery
Powell studied Fine Art and Advertising Design at Ealing Art College in London, where he explored experimental techniques under the guidance of artist Roy Ascott. During this time, he worked as a cel painter on the Beatles’ animated film Yellow Submarine, contributing to sequences such as Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds and Nowhere Man as part of the creative team behind the project.
After graduating, Powell began his career at Leo Burnett London as an art director and, in 1976, brought his talents to Australia. He joined JWT Melbourne and later worked across regional offices in Taipei, Bangkok, and Detroit, developing a global creative perspective that would shape his later work.
A Landmark in Global Advertising
Back in 1999, Powell came up with and directed the Ford Global Anthem, widely considered one of the most ambitious ad campaigns ever made. The campaign was the world’s first global media roadblock, airing at the same time in over 190 countries. This accomplishment solidified Powell’s reputation as a visionary in the advertising world and took his career to new levels.
Returning to Melbourne and Rediscovering Art
By 2004, Powell shifted his focus entirely to painting, establishing his South Melbourne studio as the centre of his creative practice. Influenced by Australian artists like Fred Williams and Clifton Pugh, his works combine layered techniques and abstract forms to capture both landscapes and cityscapes.
One of his most striking pieces, White Trash (2007–09), used discarded household items to create a sculptural installation commenting on suburban consumerism. Exhibited at Gasworks Arts Park in Albert Park, the work challenged audiences to rethink waste and sustainability before being responsibly dismantled.
Capturing Melbourne’s Transformation
From 2010 onwards, Powell presented eight major exhibitions, each exploring Melbourne through a different lens. Rivers of Light in 2010 captured the city’s nightscapes, while Mapping Melbourne in 2011 used cartographic inspiration to explore its urban structure. His 2018 exhibition, Mighty Melbourne, showcased more than 300 paintings, sketches, and prints celebrating the city’s rapid transformation into a vertical metropolis.
In discussing Mighty Melbourne, Powell described his goal as capturing “what is here today and will be gone tomorrow,” highlighting his deep connection to Melbourne’s changing skyline. Following the exhibition, the City of Melbourne acquired three of his concertina sketchbooks featuring delicate panoramic watercolour and wax works tracing the Yarra River corridor and South Melbourne streetscapes.
South Melbourne’s Creative Lens
Although Powell was born in London, his artistic focus has been deeply rooted in Melbourne, and South Melbourne in particular. His works often celebrate the area’s blend of historic architecture, industrial heritage, and modern development, offering locals a fresh perspective on familiar landmarks.
Today, his paintings are featured in significant collections, including the State Library of Victoria and the City of Port Phillip, ensuring that Powell’s vision of Melbourne, both past and future, remains preserved for generations.
