Five New Murals Added to Downtown Pensacola
The Pensacola Mural Fest was organized in 2022 by a group of community leaders and local muralists who believe that murals can add to the beauty of Pensacola, promote public art and attract visitors. The Pensacola Muralists group, Tanyard neighborhood residents and local arts advocates came together to establish the first festival, which was originally called First City Mural Fest.
In 2023, artists painted five buildings along the Barrancas corridor, and Pensacola Mural Fest hosted a one-day mural festival. The tradition continued during Foo Foo Fest in November of 2024, with five new murals painted on the exterior walls of businesses along Barrancas and Garden Streets. Pensacola Magazine caught up with the artists behind this year’s murals to dive into their inspirations and share the stories behind these vibrant additions to downtown Pensacola. Visit pensacolamuralfest.com for more information on the Pensacola Mural Fest and to view a map of each mural location.
Artist Name: Curtis Glover
Mural Title: Kraken
Location: Strong Street Studio | 109 North A Street
Artist Statement: The inspiration behind the large octopus came from the building owner’s request. They nicknamed one of their daughters the Kraken and wanted me to portray that on the wall somehow. Being from Tennessee, I am never asked to paint ocean life, so this was a fun and fresh challenge for me. We added a jellyfish around the corner to include their other daughter as well. The tentacles flowing everywhere also represent Scott, the business owner, with how busy he can be in the intense process of glass blowing, where timing is everything. He showed me the process of making various glass sculptures during my visit on site. It was a great experience overall and I’d like to thank him and his family for all their hospitality. They made the road festival a great experience for me.
Artist Name: Patrick Maxcy
Mural Title: The Joy of Flight
Location: Adsync | 201 South F Street
Artist Statement: Pensacola is well known for their Blue Angels. It’s hard to miss the dozens of murals I saw of them around town. They are amazing to watch in flight, but I wanted to paint something a little different and a bit more whimsical. AdSync, the business I painted on, had just done several aviation related projects so I wanted to keep within the flight theme. I also wanted the mural to remind people of how amazing our local wildlife and surrounding nature are. Along the 62-foot-long wall, I painted a caffeine-fueled octopus catching a ride on the back of highly skilled flight-trained birds. One bird is wearing aviation goggles, while monarch butterflies and paper airplanes soar in the same direction as the traffic along Barrancas Avenue. I enjoy hearing people’s imaginations run wild with their version of the stories happening in my work.

Artist Name: Christian Stanley
Mural Title: Coastal Claw
Location: Pensacola Imports | 725 West Garden Street
Artist Statement: Coastal Claw celebrates the spirit of Pensacola, a town deeply connected to its seaside heritage. This mural, created in collaboration with Pensacola Imports, captures the beauty and resilience of the coastal environment through the iconic imagery of a crab. As a symbol of both strength and adaptability, the crab serves as a fitting metaphor for the community’s enduring relationship with the sea. This mural enhances the local landscape but also invites reflection on the interconnectedness of nature and community. Coastal Claw stands as a colorful testament to the charm and character of Pensacola’s seaside identity.

Artist Name: Daniela de Castro
Mural Title: Student Hands
Location: PSC Downtown Center | 418 West Garden Street
Artist Statement: The hands portrayed belong to Pensacola State College Alumnithe classmates of the artist while she attended the college as a graphic design student. The interaction of the hands speaks to the community and friendship built over the years of studying side-by-side.

Artist Names: Aaron Taylor & Tom Paux of Brix Design Inc.
Mural Title: American Magic
Location: Vowells Printing | 1233 Barrancas Avenue
Artist Statement: Our hope was to create a mural that would feature a prominent part of our city, recognized by all. We were inspired by the American Magic team, what they have accomplished and that they chose Pensacola as their training ground. After meeting with the owners to discuss ideas, we all agreed it would be a nice touch to include Pensacola’s new Chappie James Three-Mile bridge, in addition to welcoming American Magic to Pensacola. As for the small side mural, the owners had the idea to use the old saying “Pensacola: the Western Gate to the Sunshine State.” We took this opportunity to hand-letter a colorful sign that would greet people as they come to Pensacola. We are glad that we were selected to create a mural for our city that people will be able to enjoy for years to come.