TAMPA, Fla. – Artists in downtown Tampa used their craft to share a message of unity and inclusiveness in a time where they all say we need to hear it the most.

​​Melvin Halsey was one of the artists working on the Black Lives Matter murals. “A project like this is needed to just show that we are coming together, on and but to also give black artists within the community an opportunity to voice themselves through their artwork,” he said.

Dozens of artists made these Tampa streets and intersections their own canvas.

“It’s like a quilted piece that is by a lot of different artists in the community and their style, we did have a day to do it so it came together fairly quickly,” said Tony Krol of Merch Culture Gallery. 

Volunteers, donors and several organizers also showed their support helping these artists turn their visions into reality.

“This is a blending of so many different things and it’s so important for all of us to be here and i appreciate being part of this community,” one of the volunteers said.

Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber President and CEO Justice Gennari said, “It means that we’re all created equal and that we’re coming together and that we’re in this together and we’re going to come out stronger together as a community.”

Whether it’s the Black Lives Matter mural on East Sass St. to the LGBT mural at the intersection of N. Franklin and Henderson, artist Cam Parker said, “It is just about unity and it’s about black lives matter, black trans lives matter, queer, pride colliding and being intersectional in an intersection.”

“I want art and this beauty to be the new norm.”