St. Pete Community Mural Project
A Vision of Creativity & Community
What began as a spark of inspiration from Sara Salem, our Head of Fine Arts, has blossomed into one of the most heartfelt projects we’ve ever undertaken. The idea was simple yet powerful: to bring more art to St. Petersburg by holding a contest for local storefronts to win a free mural.
The response was incredible, but one entry stood out—Mikhael’s storefront, with its potential to transform a blank wall into a vibrant community centerpiece. After an internal vote, Mikhael was selected as the winner, and the journey began.
But Sara didn’t stop there. Inspired by the resilience of our city following the devastation of hurricanes Helen and Milton, she envisioned something bigger: a mural that wouldn’t just beautify a single storefront but also bring the community together in a shared act of creation.
She applied for and secured a grant from the St. Pete Art Alliance, who, alongside the City of St. Petersburg, became pivotal supporters of this initiative. And so, the Community Mural Project was born—a symbol of unity, creativity, and hope.
Together with our talented team of artists—Christianna, Clair, Nadine, Nelia, and Sara—the design began to take shape.
The mural is a stunning collage of faces in diverse colors, symbolizing unity and the beauty of embracing our differences. Each face tells a story, and together, they reflect the vibrant, multicultural fabric of St. Petersburg.
Why It Matters?
The Community Mural Project is more than just a painting; it’s a testament to the resilience and creativity of St. Petersburg. With every stroke of the brush, we’re building a brighter, more connected community.
Scroll through the photos below to see the incredible work from each weekend!
Project Sponsors
St. Pete Community Mural - Weekend One
A Vibrant Start
The first weekend of our Community Mural Project marked an incredible beginning! The energy was electric as neighbors, families, and friends came together to lay the foundation for this collaborative artwork.
With the guidance of Nelia, even first-time painters felt confident in picking up a brush. The beauty of teamwork shone through as every stroke brought us closer to a shared vision. We owe a special thanks to the City of St. Petersburg and the St. Pete Art Alliance for making this dream possible through their generous support.
It wasn’t just about the mural—it was about building connections and celebrating the creativity that unites our community. Here’s a look at the progress we made during this unforgettable first weekend
A glimpse of first weekend
St. Pete Community Mural - Weekend Two
Adding New Layers
As the second weekend rolled in, we saw the mural take on even more life and personality. Under the expert leadership of Clair, participants found new ways to bring color, creativity, and connection to the wall.
Clair’s guidance was instrumental in helping everyone, from novices to seasoned painters, contribute meaningfully to the project. Thanks to her skillful approach, we added new details, blending community effort with artistic excellence.
Once again, we’re deeply grateful to the City of St. Petersburg and the St. Pete Art Alliance for their continuous support in turning this community-driven initiative into a reality.
A glimpse of second weekend
St. Pete Community Mural - Weekend Three
Improvising & Overcoming Challenges
This third weekend of the Community Mural Project was guided by Christianna, our talented graphic designer, who expertly transformed the design concept into its final visual layout.
Despite the unusually cold Florida weather, which meant fewer participants joined us, the team’s spirit and determination shone through as we pressed on to make progress.
One of the weekend's highlights was revisiting the design to include more flowers, adding vibrant beauty and a renewed sense of life to the mural. This shift brought additional meaning to our goal of celebrating community resilience.
Painting the upper sections presented a logistical challenge, as we switched from scaffolding to ladders. However, the adaptability and teamwork of everyone involved, led by Christianna’s expertise, ensured that each stroke added to the vision of unity and embracing differences. Every weekend proves the strength of collaboration!
A glimpse of third weekend
St. Pete Community Mural - Weekend Four
The final weekend of our St. Pete Community Mural Project was a vibrant success, with all painting slots fully booked! Led by our talented artist Nadine Allan, this weekend brought even more energy and creativity as community members gathered to add the final touches to this beautiful collaborative piece.
The mural, which celebrates unity and diversity, is officially done, our team of artists came together one last time, finalized the details and perfected the finishing touches. You can find our amazing finalized master piece on the intersection of 22nd and Central Ave, downtown St. Pete
We extend a heartfelt thank you to the St. Pete Arts Alliance and the City of St. Pete for their generous support, as well as to every participant who made this project a true reflection of community spirit and artistic collaboration.
A glimpse of last weekend