River of Color

Greater Public Studio, located in Tampa, FL, is not your typical graphic design agency. While we excel in traditional design work, our expertise extends far beyond that. One notable project we recently undertook was the design and production of an asphalt mural for the new River Walk on Cass Street—a venture that truly exemplifies our commitment to community engagement.

Teaming up with Anthony Freese, we collaborated closely to envision and manage the creation of this asphalt mural in downtown Tampa. The project was supported by the Downtown Tampa Partnership, an organization dedicated to fostering the development of the downtown area. The asphalt mural’s purpose is twofold: enhancing the safety of pedestrians and cyclists while serving as a way finding element that seamlessly connects both sides of the River Walk. 

Located at the intersection between the Tampa Museum of Art and the Straz Center, the River Walk experiences a brief interruption. To address this issue, our mural acts as a guide, facilitating the smooth transition for individuals navigating this particular stretch. Inspired by the mesmerizing Hillsborough River, the design of the mural resembles a vibrant flowing river, thoughtfully incorporating arrows and directional elements to lead people to the continuation of the River Walk. This mural is called River of Color.

Notably, River of Color is not the sole piece of art adorning the vicinity. Adjacent to the Tampa Museum of Art, you’ll find the Stay Curious mural, an impressive 430-feet wide mural that encourages individuals to explore and embrace their creative side that was created by TesOne and Bask. When conceptualizing  River of Color, we took into account the interplay between colors and design elements, ensuring a harmonious visual experience for passersby.

At Greater Public Studio, our specialization lies in hand painted murals, and asphalt murals are no exception. We have successfully designed and managed the production of numerous safety-oriented crosswalk murals, aligning with the city’s vision of “Vision Zero” that aims to eliminate pedestrian and cyclist fatalities through improved road safety measures.

Despite the unique challenges presented by asphalt murals, we completed this project efficiently with the assistance of dedicated volunteers from the community. Given the limited closure time permitted for the surrounding roads to avoid traffic disruption, we leveraged the expertise of our Greater Public Studio team, along with the invaluable contributions of Anthony Freese and our motivated volunteers. Remarkably, we achieved the feat of completing the mural in just one day, covering an entire four-way intersection.