SKYLAR SUAREZ
Florida-based mural artist, painter, & illustrator specializing in public/community art.
MAJOR PROJECTS
“Guardian Angels”, Seminole Heights - Mural, 2020
Pro-bono exterior mural thanking medical and essential personnel during the COVID-19 crisis.
“Under the Sea”, Gasparilla Festival of the Arts - Painted Car, 2019
Car live painting for the 2018 Gasparilla Festival of the Arts as part of CARMADA.
"Spidey Spray", Tampa Heights, FL - Mural, 2019
Exterior mural done as part of Tampa Bay Fresh Fest 2019.
"Nuclear Vision", Downtown Tampa, FL - Mural, 2018
Exterior mural on the promotional cube at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts.
“Rooted Bloom”, Seminole Heights, Tampa, FL - Mural, 2018
Large exterior mural on the west side of the Francis House EPIC campus.
COMPETITIONS & AWARDS
"Professional Development Grant", Arts Council of Hillsborough County, 2019
Recipient of an equipment grant from Tampa's art council.
"Channelside Bells", Traditional & Digital Arts (TADA), 2017
Chosen as one of four artists to paint an exterior mural in the Bell Channelside apartment complex in Downtown Tampa, FL.
“Park Bench Call”, Tampa Heights, FL - Mural, 2017
Chosen as one of seven artists to paint a park bench at Seminole Park in Historic Kenwood, St. Petersburg, FL.
SHOWS & EXHIBITIONS
"Gasparilla Festival of the Arts", Tampa, FL - Live Car Painting, 2018 & 2019
"RandoMIZE", St. Petersburg, FL - Group Show, 10/2018
"ArtOfficial Intelligence", St. Petersburg, FL - Group Show, Multiple Dates
Pride Without Prejudice, St. Petersburg, FL - Group Show, 6/2018
"One Love", St. Petersburg, FL - Group Show, 5/2018
"Tampa Bay Fresh Fest", Tampa, FL - Artist & Fundraiser, 4/2018
"Pop Culture Pop Art Explosion!", St. Petersburg, FL - Group Show, 3/2018
"Fine Art: Fan Art", St. Petersburg, FL - Group Show, 1/2018
"Tampa Bay Comic Con", Tampa, FL - Convention (Artist), Multiple Years
"MegaCon Tampa Bay", Tampa, FL - Convention (Artist), 10/2017
"MetroCon", Tampa, FL - Convention (Artist), 8/2017
PROJECTS, CONT'D
“Digital South”, Clearwater, FL - Mural, 2020 (multiple)
Interior murals done for Digital South IT company's common areas and conference rooms.
"WOW", Tampa Heights, FL - Mural, 2019
Exterior mural done as part of Tampa Bay Fresh Fest 2020.
“CBD Honey Mural”, Tampa, FL - Mural, 2019
Exterior mural done for Your CBD Store.
“CBD Honey Sidewalk Mural”, Tampa, FL - Sidewalk Mural, 2019
Exterior sidewalk path mural done for Your CBD Store.
“Sunset in the City”, Seminole Heights, FL - Mural, 2018
Exterior mural done for the Pickett Fence bed and breakfast.
“Pixel Adventure”, Gasparilla Festival of the Arts - Painted Car, 2018
Car live painting for the 2018 Gasparilla Festival of the Arts as part of CARMADA.
“Mad Brewer”, Seminole Heights, FL - Mural, 2018
Exterior mural done for Southern Brewing and Winemaking.
“Flower Child”, Dublin, Ireland - Mural, 2018
Exterior mural done as part of a street art exhibit in downtown Dublin.
“Floral Bloom”, Seminole Heights, FL - Mural, 2018
Exterior mural done for the Jai Dee Yoga studio.
“Tampa Lights”, Channelside, Tampa, FL - Mural, 2018
Exterior mural located in the Bell Channelside campus.
"Geometric Anarchy", Tampa Heights, FL - Mural, 2018
Exterior mural done as part of Tampa Bay Fresh Fest 2018.
“Collaboration Wall at Roberstons”, Tampa Heights, FL - Mural, 2018
Exterior collaborative mural with four other artists for Tampa Bay Fresh Fest.
“Coloured Life”, St. Petersburg, FL - Public Art, 2018
Painted bench in Seminole Park facing the playground depicting coloured pencils.
“Heights Memorial”, Seminole Heights, FL - Mural, 2017
Pro-bono exterior mural dedicated as a community tribute for the victims of the Seminole Heights shootings in 2017.
“Tampa Beer Works”, Brandon, FL - Mural, 2018
Interior mural done for the Tampa Beer Works brewery.
“Bourbon Barber”, Tampa, FL - Mural, 2017
Interior mural done for the Bourbon Barber.
“Alleyway Vigilantes”, Tampa, FL - Escape Room Design & Painting, 2017
Interior escape room design and painted in graffiti style for Imagine Escape Games.
“Live, Love, Life”, South Tampa, FL - Mural, 2017
Exterior mural on the east-facing wall of the OTL Hookah Lounge.
“Ink Life”, Gibsonton, FL - Mural, 2017
Interior message board mural done for Native American Tattoos.
“Native American Dream”, Gibsonton, FL - Mural, 2017
Interior mural done for Native American Tattoos.
SKILLS
Media Proficiencies:
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Exterior & Spray Paint
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Acrylic paint
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Enamel
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Inks & Markers
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Digital Art
Planning, budgeting, and executing large-scale projects.
Digital drafting and design of projects of all sizes.
Knowledge of materials and tools needed to execute art/mural projects depending on surface condition, size, location, and texture.
Experience in stagecraft, set building, painting, and safe use of power tools, lighting, and aerial equipment.
EDUCATION
University of South Florida, Tampa FL
Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering.
Blake High School, Tampa FL
Attended magnet arts program for Stagecraft and Technical Theatre. Participated in and led the building and painting of sets, as well as the lighting and sound effects of various theatre productions.
REFERENCES
Tim Keeports
VP, Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association
Eric Hornsby
Founder/Director, Tampa Bay Fresh Fest
Joy Winheim
Executive Director, Empath Health
PUBLICATIONS
Bobby Lewis, "Seminole Heights Muralist's Latest Work Reminds First Responders They're Appreciated", Tampa Bay News 10, WSTP.com, 2020
Kelly Ring, "Mural Thanking First Responders Completed in 24 Hours", Fox 13 Tampa Bay, Fox13News.com, 2020
Guest Contributor, "Skylar Suarez: 2019 AC Professional Development Artist Grant Recipient", Hillsborough County Arts Council, TampaArts.org, 2019
Cathy Salustri, “Tampa Bay Fresh Fest Will Pay Artists to Paint Murals in One Tampa Neighbourhood”, Creative Loafing, August 2018
Julie Garisto, “Women Take Over Art Car Fleet”, CreativePinellas.org, Feb 2018
Shannon Valladolid, “Murals Provide Hope to Seminole Heights After Killings”, WTSP.com, Feb 2018
Sean Daly, “New Mural in Seminole Heights Offers Hope to Still-Healing Neighborhood After Murders”, ABCactionNews.com, Jan 2018
Heather Monahan, “Seminole Heights Community Unveils Mural and Banner Dedicated to Murder Victims”, WFLA.com, Nov 2017
H.K.N.A., “Here it Comes… Public Art in Historic Kenwood!”, HistoricKenwood.org, Nov 2017