Color the World Kind

Some art belongs in a gallery. Other times, it belongs outside — woven into the streets and sidewalks where anyone can walk by and feel a part of it.

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Last week, I had the privilege of painting a mural for Parking Spaces for Pride in Orlando, a project led by Trina Gregory of Se7enBites Restaurant. The mission was powerful: Artists transforming 49 parking spots into vibrant tributes for the LGBTQ+ community and the 49 lives lost at Pulse Nightclub. My contribution carried a simple phrase that’s become a mantra for me: Color the World Kind.

Why Public Art Matters

As an Orlando mural artist, I believe murals are more than paint on a wall (or in this case, on pavement). They are a way to create visibility, spark conversation, and remind people of the beauty of community.

Kindness is resistance. Kindness is love painted into the everyday. When we color the world kind, we choose compassion, connection, and creativity in a time that often feels divided.

During the mural painting, I witnessed something powerful: strangers becoming community. Many took photos, some cried or stopped to ask questions, others shared stories of resilience, love, and loss. What began as asphalt and paint became something larger — a living memorial that refuses to fade.

The Role of Murals in Community Healing

Public art has the ability to ripple outward. A painted word, a splash of color, an invitation to pause — these are the things that stitch us together.

That’s why Pride murals in Orlando and projects like Parking Spaces for Pride matter. They are not just backdrops for photos. They are community-driven art that serves as conversation starters, healing spaces, and love letters to the cities we live in.

This particular kindness mural wasn’t about perfection. It was about presence.

Carrying It Forward

Color the World Kind doesn’t end with one mural. It’s a phrase I plan to carry into my future work, retreats, and hopefully into your day as well.

To keep the momentum alive, I’ve created Color the World Kind merch — with proceeds directly supporting the foundation behind Parking Spaces for Pride so next year’s project can grow even bigger. It’s art you can wear, and a way to carry the message forward together.

If you’re searching for Orlando mural artists who believe in the power of public art for community connection, you’re in the right place.

As with all my art, my hope is simple: that someone walking by (or now, wearing a piece of this project) might feel a little lighter, a little braver, a little more connected.

To kindness, in color and in action.

✨ Blum

For more on the project and its impact, check out all of the community coverage and APnews of Parking Spaces for Pride.