New mural making waves at UTC

If you’ve spent any time around the Tampa Bay area, chances are you’ve come across the striking work of muralist Derek Donnelly on prominent public spaces. Now, his signature style is making a splash at UTC with a new mural that invites visitors beneath the surface. Part of a larger series, the piece features a serene female figure surrounded by graceful sharks, all captured in calming shades of blue. She floats among the sharks, representing inner peace in the face of pressure—what once felt threatening becomes neutral, showing that strength comes from presence, not resistance.

MEET THE ARTIST

Derek Donnelly, known as Saint Paint Arts, has helped shape the visual landscape of Tampa Bay through vibrant, large-scale murals that stretch from private homes to public institutions. His work transforms walls into stories — blending color, history and a strong sense of place across neighborhoods, businesses, and cultural corridors.

From coastal resorts to college campuses, city buildings to small businesses, Donnelly’s art is woven throughout the region. His clients have included Hilton Hotels, the Tampa Bay Rays, AARP, St. Petersburg College, the Museum of History, Sirata Beach Resort and Suncoast Credit Union, as well as numerous municipal and government entities. Each project reflects a connection to Florida’s natural beauty, local heritage and evolving communities.

Spanning over a decade of public art, Donnelly’s murals continue to serve as landmarks — bringing color, identity and dialogue to the everyday spaces of the Gulf Coast.

He was also recently named the inaugural Ruth Eckerd Hall’s Artmaker of the Year. This program highlights and celebrates community artists, giving the artists a yearlong exhibit at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater.

Stop by our rotating art space near Naked Farmer while it’s on display now through June! Be sure to snap a pic and share it with us on Instagram or Facebook @utcsarasota.

Follow Derek Donnelly at instagram.com/saintpaintarts.