Murals and street art show a city’s focus on expression, and St. Petersburg, Florida is no exception since it’s known as a street art capital. The downtown area of St. Pete is adorned with murals and street art with over 600 pieces. The city’s central street is the focal point of its culture with murals around every corner. One mural in particular titled “Harmony” shows how engraved they are into the city and in the artist’s words, “I was really trying to convey the harmony of art and the city.” 

    The story within ‘Harmony’ shows how deep the connection is between the murals and St. Petersburg’s identity. When asked about its story the artist, Jared Wright said, “The owl and snake are cohabitating in a peaceful way kind of like the city and the counterculture peacefully intertwined together.” The piece is also made to be visually pleasing using colors that are well complimented by each other. “The whole piece down to the composition and color pallet are all meant to be very harmonious and visually pleasing.” The piece like the owl it depicts blends in with the city and only adds to the cities character. 

    Artists who make murals like Jared Wright contribute to St. Petersburg’s vibrant and growing mural scene. With talents like these the city is transformed from an urban environment to an energetic canvas. As visitors wander the city, they experience it as a living gallery where art is part of everyday life. What started off as a banned art was embraced by the community slowly and became its focal point.