A 7m mural of singer Freddie Mercury has been painted on the side of a Queen St student flat in Dunedin, complete with royal regalia befitting the late Queen frontman.
It was commissioned by building owner Allan Morrison and painted by Dunedin artist Bruce Mahalski.
Mr Mahalski said Mr Morrison wanted to put his stamp on the building, and the Queen St location meant the choice of subject was a no-brainer.
It took him about a week to complete the mural, which attracted a lot of attention as he worked on it.
"People seemed to engage with it. It's quite fun.''
In an ironic twist, Mr Mahalski had been trying to find out who owned the building, because he thought the exterior wall would be perfect for a mural.
He then got a call out of the blue from Mr Morrison, asking him to do just that.
The musical theme was also a throwback to Mr Mahalski's past, as he used to play in bands in Dunedin in the 1980s.
One of music's most beloved figures, Mercury hit the headlines again last year after the release of Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, which earned star Rami Malek an Academy Award for his portrayal of the singer.
Queen, with Adam Lambert standing in for Mercury, performs at Forsyth Barr Stadium, in Dunedin, on February 10.
