Phibs is the pseudonym of Tim De Haan, born in Narooma on the NSW South Coast. He grew up in Sydney, where he began painting characters and tagging in the late 1980s, before relocating to Melbourne in 2001 and joining the Everfresh Studio collective in Fitzroy alongside artists including Rone and Mike Makatron. His signature style combines densely layered, twisting organic forms within bold black outlines, drawing on graffiti lettering traditions, tribal motifs, and a deep engagement with nature, with recurring motifs including fish and birds. Works from his print practice have been acquired by the National Gallery of Australia for its permanent collection, and he has a work in the permanent collection of STRAAT Museum in Amsterdam.
In NSW, Phibs has curated the Walk the Walls festival in Caringbah (2018) and Cronulla (2019), both in partnership with Sutherland Shire Council and the NSW Department of Justice. He also curated the 2022 Surface Festival in Canberra, presented by the ACT Government. He was also featured in the 2005 Australian street art documentary RASH. He works across aerosol, acrylic on canvas, and large-scale murals.
Lilyfield, Sydney
Dazzled in orange tribal-style artworks on the northern platform of the Leichhardt North Light…
Marrickville, Sydney
Three characters with bright orange graffiti between them.
Penrith, Sydney
The invasion of insects at Walls Out West, featuring a big spider, grasshopper and cricket.
Cronulla, Sydney
A simple red bird with an orange crest amidst a purple background, a royal amongst the birds…
Cairns City, Regional Queensland
A giant grab, chill clownfish and many other artworks within the surrounding laneway painted for…
Goulburn, Regional NSW
An array of Australian wildlife and flowers with a few burning leaves falling. The artwork is…
Corrimal, Regional NSW
A giant feature wall on the southern wall of Coles, part of a project to enliven the local Corrimal…
Petersham, Sydney
This vibrant public artwork is a collaboration between four artists, celebrating Australian…
Cronulla, Sydney
A giant fish in a bubble, painted in a tribal style reminiscent to Phibs' familiar motif. Painted…
Cairns City, Regional Queensland
With resemblance of a card, this surreal piece for Sea Walls Australia highlights the limited…
City, Canberra
Based on the theme of flora and fauna native to the ACT region, the moths and frogs are examples of…
Cairns City, Regional Queensland
A detailed part Aztec part tribal collaboration that references varying cultures and symbolism.…
Newtown, Sydney
Two birds represents everything from freedom to animals that spread seeds across the world. This…
Newtown, Sydney
A giant blue bird on a bare wall. Further touchup of the artwork has been made in July 2019 with a…
Braddon, Canberra
Two crowned cranes and a brewing machine painted on the wall of Bentspoke Brewery. As a side…
Bankstown, Sydney
A bright golden stream of light in the sky painted on the corner of a building along Dale Parade.
Braddon, Canberra
A giant collaboration of geometric shapes (Beastman) and entities including leaves and beetles by…
Braddon, Canberra
The signature giant-scale wall for Surface Fest Canberra includes a myriad of graffiti artists…
Stanmore, Sydney
A commissioned by the St Vincent de Paul Society outlining the values and mission of the…
Wollongong, Regional NSW
Wild and eccentric lettering with a theme to Steel City, Wollongong's nickname.
Liverpool, Sydney
The giant mural includes a bird and small fishes and is an electric explosion of colour, painted…
City, Canberra
A tribal fish on the roller shutters leading to the entrance of the parking area to one of the…
Wollongong, Regional NSW
Large set of tribal birds with the elements of water and wind integrated throughout the background.
Cairns City, Regional Queensland
A large fish looking a little bit shocked and faded, floating over graffiti stylewriting.