Mural festival makes waves in downtown Lakeland, brings international artists
November 5, 2026 at 10:28 AM EST
From Nov. 6 through 14, Color Wave Walls, Lakeland’s first mural festival, will bring artists from across the world to create a "walkable, evolving open-air mural museum."
This month, Color Wave Walls welcomes 11 artists from around the world to paint murals on buildings throughout downtown Lakeland. From November 6 through 14, Lakelanders are invited to watch mural artists at work, attend panel events, and participate in a community mural — giving painting a try for themselves.
The festival, created by Gillian Fazio and Katerina Santos, hopes to make contemporary art accessible to everyone and create meaningful opportunities for community connection.
From Nov. 6 through 14, Color Wave Walls, Lakeland’s first mural festival, will bring artists from across the world to create a ‘walkable, evolving open-air mural museum.’ (527x382, AR: 1.3795811518324608)
“What we’re trying to do here is make people want to spend more time in our local businesses, buy a coffee, walk the walls, and spend time in our local community,” said Fazio, a born and raised Lakelander. “We’re excited to contribute to our local economy in that way.”
438 artists from 33 states and 21 countries applied to participate in Color Wave. A panel of community leaders selected the inaugural roster, who will each design and paint a mural, free of charge.
Artists began arriving in Lakeland on Nov. 4, the painting and official activities begin on Friday, Nov. 6, and Lakelanders can participate in the community mural on Saturday, Nov. 7, during the Downtown Farmers Curb Market. More event details can be found on Color Wave’s social media.
Why not Lakeland?
Growing up, Fazio had doubts about art as a viable career path in Lakeland. Now, her hope is to support artists through festivals like Color Wave, a move that she believes will inspire confidence that creative careers can be built locally.
“I remember sitting in our classrooms in [Lakeland] and saying, ‘I’m going to have to leave if I want to pursue art.’ I see people doing it in Miami or in New York or in LA, and I remember feeling like, well, there’s no way I can live in Lakeland and do this,” Fazio said.
Today, Fazio has operated her mural practice in Lakeland for nearly a decade. A University of Florida BFA graduate, she said her family’s background in construction made the transition from canvas work to mural work a natural one. Her art can be found throughout the Lakeland area, from Lake Mirror to Dixieland and everywhere in between.
Gillian Fazio and Katerina Santos founded Color Wave Walls to make contemporary art accessible to everyone and create meaningful opportunities for community connection. (487x650, AR: 0.7492307692307693)
“If there’s butterflies and botanicals, that is like my bread and butter,” said Fazio
In 2024, Fazio met Santos, who works under the moniker “TRATOS” and moved to Lakeland in 2023, bringing with her a background in mural festivals. The idea for Color Wave struck while the two were painting a mural together.
“In places like Miami or St. Pete, you can walk down the street and see these massive murals by celebrity artists,” Fazio said. “Why not Lakeland?”
With Fazio’s community knowledge and Santos’ experience in the festival circuit, Fazio said it was “the best of both worlds.”
A city changed
Color Wave’s launch comes at a time of growing investment in Lakeland’s art scene.
In 2017, the City of Lakeland, through the Mayor’s Council on the Arts, dedicated $250,000 to grant funding for the arts community. Since then, the allocation has increased to $375,000, a 50% increase in less than a decade.
“Lakeland is an arts community,” said Fazio. “We want to be on that list of things that Lakelanders are so proud to take ownership of so we’re hoping for longevity.”
A mural on the outside of the Lloyd’s of Lakeland building, painted by TRATOS. (560x423, AR: 1.3238770685579195)
For her, the Color Wave Walls festival doesn’t end when the paint dries. Fazio hopes the art will continue to inspire creatives by keeping a deep understanding of the Lakeland community at the forefront.
“The main thing is we are of Lakeland, we love Lakeland, and we think anybody that loves Lakeland should love Color Wave,” she said.
The festival is set to return every two years. Fazio says the biennial timeframe will give time for new artists to be scouted and allow the community to absorb the pieces, much like a museum exhibition, she said.
“We are hoping for a beautiful legacy and fostering that next generation of artists,” Fazio said. “Even if it’s not paint, we want to just foster that next generation of creatives in Lakeland.”
Fionna Sugg-Campos is a reporter for LkldNow, a nonprofit newsroom providing independent local news for Lakeland. Read at LkldNow.com.
The festival, created by Gillian Fazio and Katerina Santos, hopes to make contemporary art accessible to everyone and create meaningful opportunities for community connection.
From Nov. 6 through 14, Color Wave Walls, Lakeland’s first mural festival, will bring artists from across the world to create a ‘walkable, evolving open-air mural museum.’ (527x382, AR: 1.3795811518324608)
“What we’re trying to do here is make people want to spend more time in our local businesses, buy a coffee, walk the walls, and spend time in our local community,” said Fazio, a born and raised Lakelander. “We’re excited to contribute to our local economy in that way.”
438 artists from 33 states and 21 countries applied to participate in Color Wave. A panel of community leaders selected the inaugural roster, who will each design and paint a mural, free of charge.
Artists began arriving in Lakeland on Nov. 4, the painting and official activities begin on Friday, Nov. 6, and Lakelanders can participate in the community mural on Saturday, Nov. 7, during the Downtown Farmers Curb Market. More event details can be found on Color Wave’s social media.
Why not Lakeland?
Growing up, Fazio had doubts about art as a viable career path in Lakeland. Now, her hope is to support artists through festivals like Color Wave, a move that she believes will inspire confidence that creative careers can be built locally.
“I remember sitting in our classrooms in [Lakeland] and saying, ‘I’m going to have to leave if I want to pursue art.’ I see people doing it in Miami or in New York or in LA, and I remember feeling like, well, there’s no way I can live in Lakeland and do this,” Fazio said.
Today, Fazio has operated her mural practice in Lakeland for nearly a decade. A University of Florida BFA graduate, she said her family’s background in construction made the transition from canvas work to mural work a natural one. Her art can be found throughout the Lakeland area, from Lake Mirror to Dixieland and everywhere in between.
Gillian Fazio and Katerina Santos founded Color Wave Walls to make contemporary art accessible to everyone and create meaningful opportunities for community connection. (487x650, AR: 0.7492307692307693)
“If there’s butterflies and botanicals, that is like my bread and butter,” said Fazio
In 2024, Fazio met Santos, who works under the moniker “TRATOS” and moved to Lakeland in 2023, bringing with her a background in mural festivals. The idea for Color Wave struck while the two were painting a mural together.
“In places like Miami or St. Pete, you can walk down the street and see these massive murals by celebrity artists,” Fazio said. “Why not Lakeland?”
With Fazio’s community knowledge and Santos’ experience in the festival circuit, Fazio said it was “the best of both worlds.”
A city changed
Color Wave’s launch comes at a time of growing investment in Lakeland’s art scene.
In 2017, the City of Lakeland, through the Mayor’s Council on the Arts, dedicated $250,000 to grant funding for the arts community. Since then, the allocation has increased to $375,000, a 50% increase in less than a decade.
“Lakeland is an arts community,” said Fazio. “We want to be on that list of things that Lakelanders are so proud to take ownership of so we’re hoping for longevity.”
A mural on the outside of the Lloyd’s of Lakeland building, painted by TRATOS. (560x423, AR: 1.3238770685579195)
For her, the Color Wave Walls festival doesn’t end when the paint dries. Fazio hopes the art will continue to inspire creatives by keeping a deep understanding of the Lakeland community at the forefront.
“The main thing is we are of Lakeland, we love Lakeland, and we think anybody that loves Lakeland should love Color Wave,” she said.
The festival is set to return every two years. Fazio says the biennial timeframe will give time for new artists to be scouted and allow the community to absorb the pieces, much like a museum exhibition, she said.
“We are hoping for a beautiful legacy and fostering that next generation of artists,” Fazio said. “Even if it’s not paint, we want to just foster that next generation of creatives in Lakeland.”
Fionna Sugg-Campos is a reporter for LkldNow, a nonprofit newsroom providing independent local news for Lakeland. Read at LkldNow.com.