A new landmark for Norwood: Rain unveiled on Osmond Terrace
07/08/2026
The City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters has unveiled its fifth Quadrennial Public Artwork, Rain—a striking new installation located on the Osmond Terrace nature strip at the intersection of Osmond Terrace and William Street.
Commissioned through the Council's Quadrennial Public Art Program, Rain was created by local art and design team Wills Projects, comprising artists Laura Wills and Will Cheesman.
The artwork reflects the Council's ongoing commitment to creating vibrant public spaces, celebrating local stories and strengthening the City's unique sense of place.
Public art has the ability to transform our streets and public places, Mayor Robert Bria says.
“Public art invites us to pause, to look more closely, to question, and to see familiar places in new ways. It enriches our everyday lives and helps tell the stories that make our City unique — and Rain is a wonderful example of this.”
A tribute to nature and place
Inspired by the local rain moth, Rain celebrates one of nature's often-overlooked inhabitants and explores themes of connection, transformation and place.
The sculpture's striking wings act as a canvas for local stories, featuring intricate lace-like imagery woven into patterns of camouflage. Beneath the artwork, glowing caterpillars and a constellation of lights create an immersive experience that encourages curiosity and imagination.
Laura Wills said the artwork shares the story of the rain moth and its connection to the local environment.
"Rain explores the story of the rain moth, an amazing local story exploring temporality, fertility and connection to place—and we are pleased to be sharing it with the community."
A collaborative vision
The creation of Rain involved collaboration between artists, creatives and specialists, including Kaurna consultation with artist Violet Buckskin, contributions from author Jennifer Mills and filmmaker Tayla Stabile, and expertise from the South Australian Museum.
A growing public art collection
Rain is the fifth major artwork commissioned through the Council's Quadrennial Public Art Program, which delivers one significant public artwork during each term of Council.
It joins the City's collection of landmark public artworks, including Spectrum (Norwood), Fallow (St Peters), Perpetual Sun (Stepney) and Seed Mix (Hackney), continuing Council's investment in creating engaging public spaces for the community to enjoy.
Explore Rain
Visit the dedicated Rain webpage to explore the ideas, collaborations and creative process behind Rain, including short films, an original sound work and a literary reading created for the project.
Visit the Project webpage for details about Rain, including the installation site, timeline, funding and the City’s previous major public artworks.
Image gallery
Official unveiling event: Thursday 7 August 2026.
