You may know Summit for its history in the Lakeland business community, but now it’s becoming a local arts hub, too. The company commissioned seven local muralists to use its office as their canvas, and we got an exclusive look inside at the murals they created.
The morale-boosting project was inspired by downtown Lakeland’s collection of murals, many of which you can see from Summit’s high-rise building. After months of designing + painting, basic corporate beige has been replaced by a rainbow of nature-influenced murals in offices, common spaces, and lobbies.
“The Ripple Effect” by Jon Sierra
It’s hard to have the blues when taking in this piece. It takes over an entire hallway, with runners’ footsteps creating ripples that turn water drops into a swan at the end. Sierra used virtual reality tech to map out the image before painting.
“Consider the Birds” by Maegan Carroll-Simmons
A few floors up, you’ll find Florida scrub jays flying alongside a tricolored heron and roseate spoonbills. Carroll-Simmons says this piece was inspired by protecting these threatened Florida native species, and it took around two months to complete from start to finish.
“Birds of a Feather: Soaring Together” + “Wings over Water, Flutter and Flow” by TRATOS
This art team consists of Katerina Santos and Juan Travieso, a couple from Miami that recently relocated to Lakeland. Their style combines bold, graphic angles with incredibly detailed brushstrokes. They took over several walls with birds in punchy colors.
“Water Lilies in Bloom” by Gillian Fazio
In the boardroom, you’ll find sweeping views of Lake Mirror next to a peaceful mural with Fazio’s signature “new age flora.” This one brings the outdoors in with a friendly alligator swimming through lily pads (a nod to Blinky, the one-eyed gator who once called Lake Mirror home).
If you see a cartoon-esque mural in black and white, chances are it’s one of Bump’s. | Photo by LALtoday
If you see a cartoon-esque mural in black and white, chances are it’s one of Bump’s. | Photo by LALtoday
If you see a cartoon-esque mural in black and white, chances are it’s one of Bump’s. | Photo by LALtoday
“Community,” “Kindness” + “Tranquil” by Joshua “Bump” Galletta
Find local icons like the Southgate sign drawn freehand in the first-floor lobby and parking garage pieces. Near Sierra’s mural, Galletta also branched out from his black + white style and added a few colorful strokes to “Tranquil.”
“The Great Escape” + “Sunken Secrets” by Tim Haas
Go under the sea for these two pieces that sit catty-cornered to each other — and we don’t just say that because one features a literal cat sitting in a corner. You may be surprised to learn that these aren’t 3-D; Haas is just that talented at painting with light and shadow.
While the Summit building isn’t regularly open to visitors, Premises Director Donna DeStefano said that downtown business owners can reach out to schedule a tour.
Pro tip: Summit’s parking garage is open for free parking after hours and on weekends, and you can find Galletta’s “Kindness” mural near the Massachusetts Avenue exit.
