Internationally-renowned street artist Dcypher has been chosen to paint on the side of the new Wharenui Recreation Centre.

The Cookie Monster, Frosty Boy, the Queen's crown and a sheep are just some of the Kiwiana images chosen by internationally-renowned street artist Dcypher to be painted on the side of the new Wharenui Recreation Centre.

Dcypher – real name Guy Ellis – returned to his home town of Christchurch from Los Angeles to paint the mural at the Riccarton centre.

The street art project was commissioned by the Christchurch City Council to bring something vibrant to the white walls of the newly-renovated building.



Council project manager Selena Robertson said they did not want white walls for the renovated centre.

GRANT MATTHEW/FAIRFAX NZ Internationally-renowned street artist Dcypher is returning to his hometown of Christchurch to create a unique, colourful, Kiwiana-themed mural to brighten the Wharenui Recreation Centre.

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"It would have been a wasted opportunity", she said.



Robertson said Ellis was keen to come back to Christchurch and use his artistic talent to brighten up the city.

Forecast bad weather would not deter Ellis from finishing the mural. The artist said he would keep going if the weather turned ugly.



Work on the Kiwiana-themed mural began on Tuesday night and was set to be finished by Friday.