While most parking garages are boring, gray cement structures, the VyStar Tower parking garage has been transformed into a drive-thru art museum. In June 2019, we partnered with ArtRepublic to sponsor Transcending Color, a collective artwork created by six talented local and international artists.
Our President/CEO, Brian Wolfburg says, “VyStar is pleased to work with ArtRepublic, not only to provide a more stimulating work environment for our employees, but also to contribute to ArtRepublic’s mission of shaping contemporary culture and helping artists thrive in the downtown Jacksonville community.”
Through public art projects, ArtRepublic facilitates an atmosphere of well-being among people as they navigate everyday life in the city. They achieve their mission by curating visually stimulating spaces in unlikely environments, like our parking garage.
Some artists stayed until 12 a.m. working on the mural. Some showed up at 2 a.m. to start painting before the sun came up and didn’t leave until the sun went down. One artist, Golden 305, shared that he doesn’t really operate on a strict schedule and he’s never been the type to wear a watch. When he feels creative, he goes out and paints.
Each talented artist dedicated their time and energy to help this project come to life. Artists like Remi Rough and Mark Ferreira painted from a lift, going as high as 80 feet in the air, while Ruben Gerardo worked against the sun and rain on the garage’s rooftop to create a mesmerizing, eye-catching piece. Ryan Coleman and Jason Woodside painted their abstractions with minimal light on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the garage—and the finished murals look fantastic.
Below are the artists who contributed to Transcending Color. If you like their work, show your appreciation by following them on Instagram. And if you catch a glimpse of the mural when you’re downtown, be sure to post a picture on social media and tag VyStar.
Golden 305
Golden 305’s work is marked by vibrant colors and offbeat characters influenced by anime and comic book illustrations. His lighthearted pieces are meant to inspire smiles and laughter—brightening up monochromatic public spaces with touches of whimsy.
Ruben Gerardo
Ruben Gerardo is a neo-figurative artist known for his strong use of the line and graffiti-inspired aesthetic. His work includes urban murals and mixed media installations that are created using reclaimed objects and found artifacts.
Mark Ferreira
Mark “CENT” Ferreira is a graffiti writer, contemporary artist and graphic designer based in Jacksonville. His work is typography-oriented and often riffs on traditional graffiti and characters. Working predominately in aerosol, he’s inspired by geometry, mid-century design and comics.
Remi Rough
Remi Rough is a world-renowned street and gallery artist from South London, England. Rough first started as a street artist in the 1980s, moving later to gallery art. His compositions are abstract with colored shapes and straight edges.
Jason Woodside
As a native Floridian, Jason Woodside’s work has been inspired by the natural environment—particularly the energy of the sun, sea and land. Mixing bands of kaleidoscopic pattern within geometric structures is Woodside’s signature aesthetic.
Ryan Coleman
Ryan Coleman’s work combines gestural, abstract painting with carefully rendered elements inspired by classic cartoons. Intertwining bold shapes, vivid color schemes and traditional techniques found in vintage 2D cel animation, he reimagines entirely new compositions in his own distinctive form.