The Bright Stuff - St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE)

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) recently added a major splash of color to its terminal with a pair of large murals depicting the Florida Gulf Coast. And it didn’t spend a single dime. 

Valspar, a consumer paint brand of The Sherwin-Williams Company, commissioned the artwork and paid for all of the artist’s supplies as part of its Be Bright mural series.

Airport Director Tom Jewsbury and Public Relations Director Michele Routh scouted the entire terminal to find the best place to display Valspar’s generous gift. By locating the murals on walls that flank the main exit doors, PIE gives passengers a colorful preview of the local scene as they head to the curb. Routh notes that the spot is conspicuous but does not compete with, or detract from, advertising displays in Baggage Claim.

With full creative control from Valspar, local artist Ashley Cantero selected a retro color palette and created a vibrant collage of the area’s iconic attractions. “I am thrilled to share the beauty of our community through color and creativity in the Be Bright mural,” she says. “When visitors arrive, I hope the kaleidoscope of color and geometric shapes inspire wonder and generate excitement as they begin their journey.”

Cantero’s creations were unveiled in early March, just before the PGA Tour Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Golf and Spa Resort in nearby Palm Harbor. Images of PIE’s new artwork and four other sponsored murals were displayed during the tournament along the 16th hole. (The company also had “color scouts” roaming the course presenting prizes to the most colorful fans.)

Hot tip for other airports that would like a Be Bright mural of their own: Taylor Moore, the winner of the 2023 Valspar Championship, gets to choose the location for the paint company’s next commissioned work. Since Moore is originally from San Angelo, TX, and attended the University of Arkansas, airports in those areas might have an edge. The competition is likely to be tough, though; just like it was for Moore.