Alleged Graffiti Artist Behind “Pam the Bird” Arrested in Melbourne

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Last week, the 21-year-old individual known as Jack Gibson-Burrel, who is alleged to have created the notorious “Pam the Bird,” was taken into custody and faced charges for approximately 50 crimes. These offenses ranged from burglary, car theft, to vandalism estimated at around $100,000 due to graffiti-related damage.

Over the past six months, Gibson-Burrel found himself standing before Melbourne’s Magistrate Court due to a series of vibrant murals that appeared throughout the city. Accused alongside him is 39-year-old Matthew Raoul White, who has been charged with criminal damage related to the “SROCK” tag frequently paired with a bird image.

For several years now, Pam the Bird has garnered a devoted fanbase on social media, transforming into an iconic figure in the city’s western suburbs. She can be spotted frequently on metro trains, road signs, and notable structures such as the Channel Nine building, Flinders Street Station, and more recently, the Novotel South Wharf.

 

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A post shared by Just another bird. (@goodbirdart)

The evidence presented in court consisted of CCTV recordings that supposedly showed Gibson-Burrel transporting boxes bearing the Pam merchandise with the distinctive bird logo. Additionally, authorities pointed out handwriting comparisons, bank statements, and email addresses associated with the goodbirdart Instagram account as pieces of evidence linking him to the alleged crime.

As an ardent follower of street art, I can share that Detective Senior Constable Scott Nicholls stated that Gibson-Burrel is the sole individual known to have painted “Pam the Bird” across Australia. He believes every occurrence of this graffiti artwork was created by a single artist.

Before the arrests, the bird murals had ignited discussions throughout Melbourne. Some people likened the bird to the city’s graffiti-adorned alleyways, while others labeled it as plain vandalism.

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Before the arrests, the bird murals provoked heated discussions in Melbourne, with some seeing similarities between the bird and the city’s street art-filled lanes, while others deemed it straight-up vandalism.

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2025-02-03 23:56