Paint the Town
Go big, so home can be inspired.
I was driving through Brindisi when I saw it. A few painted buildings in the middle of a grey stretch of highway. Color where there wasn't supposed to be any. I gasped out loud. I later found out it was called PA.ST.A. — Paradiso Street Art — a project that's been transforming a neighborhood called Paradiso since 2020. A neighborhood that, for a long time, people knew for all the wrong reasons. That's when something clicked.
The Idea
I spent seven years as a tattoo artist watching a single image change how someone carried themselves. The right piece of art, placed with intention, doesn't just decorate. It tells someone that they matter. Paint the Town asks: what happens when you bring that same intention to a whole community? The model is simple. Go into an underserved community. Find the people there who want to create, especially women who've never been given a wall or a stage. Run workshops. Help them design something. Let the community vote on what goes up. Connect those artists with established muralists who can bring it to scale. Then invite everyone to help with color blocking, neighbors, kids, anyone who wants to be part of it. Everyone gets paid. Everyone gets to say: I helped make this place more beautiful.
Why Now
Color is not a luxury. Beauty in public spaces affects mental health, community cohesion, and how people feel about where they live. The communities that need this most are usually the last ones to get it. I don't have a grant yet. I don't have a team yet. What I have is seven years of proof that art changes people, a deep belief that communities can lead their own transformation, and a willingness to show up and do the work. If you're a muralist, a community organization, a funder, or someone who just believes in this, I want to hear from you. Get in touch: [email protected] Or use the contact form.