SHINE
Artist: Hoxxoh, Photo: by Edel Mohr

Matthew Hoffman

About Matthew Hoffman

Based out of: Chicago, IL
A SHINE Bright Spot presented in partnership with the Public Art Project. The Public Art Project is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that facilitates public art through a variety of methods by working directly with artists, business owners, organizations and local governments.

Matthew Hoffman is a Chicago based artist & designer whose public works have been exhibited internationally. Matthew has created large scale public installations for the City of Chicago, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway Conservancy, Albright Knox Gallery, as well as companies like Apple, Facebook, Zappos, & Cards Against Humanity and You Are Beautiful Project.

About the Mural

The bold black lower-case words, “you are beautiful,” stand out against a black wall of blue, gold and red hand-written words echoing that thought, at 2732 6th Avenue South.

The mural faces west on 28th Street South, between 6th and 7th Avenues. Part of Matthew Hoffman’s growing web of community-participation murals, he brought stencils of the simple, bold, sans serif letters, “you are beautiful,” to start what turned into an all-ages project for this neighborhood and mural fans around the city.

15 feet high and 43 feet long, the mural glows with bright blue and bright gold handprints and words, scattered with red hearts and stars. Hoffman’s You Are Beautiful Project is creating murals like this one around the globe and in every state. This vivid gathering of handwriting and handprints, is the one for Florida.

The “you are beautiful” sign in front of the wall is Matthew Hoffman’s trademark, a rectangle with rounded edges 4 feet high and 16 feet long. The lowercase words, “you are beautiful,” in bold black type, are outlined by a bold black line a few inches inside the sign’s edge. This striking printed sign is what passing drivers read, catching everyone’s attention on a busy industrial street.

Behind the sign, the dark wall is covered with clusters of handprints and words. The stenciled words, “you are beautiful,” that Hoffman added as a starting point, are almost lost in painted words like, “One World One Love,” “Love Has No Borders,” “Be Audacious,” “Be The Change,” “You Are Enough,” “Live the Life You Love,” “Life is Tough But So Are You,” “Grow Art,” “Amor” and Chinese characters.

All around the words are bright blue and gold and red handprints, in every size. Red hearts, a blue sunrise, blue circles and a blue rainbow, a smiley face.

The words and hands and shapes were painted on by volunteers and people living in this neighborhood, as Hoffman shared both paint and brushes. The words and fingerprints are very personal, and many of the hands that left their mark are those of children.

Close-up, they form a written chorus of positivity and affirmations, worth exploring slowly, inch by inch. It’s a moving snapshot of this community.

As you step further away, the shapes and letters become abstract, like clusters of flowers growing thickly on the wall.

Matthew Hoffman is based in Chicago, an artist and designer known for large-scale public art projects.

As he explains, “When the phrase, ‘You Are Beautiful’ is integrated into a city or community, it creates an immediate positive dialogue. . . The mission is to leave the world a little better than when we found it.”

This mural is one of the SHINE Festival’s official Bright Spots, in partnership with the St Petersburg nonprofit, Public Art Project.

Title: You are beautiful

Address: 2732 6th Ave. S.

Building: Oktane Media

Installation Date: 2018

Abys2024

Cristi López2024

Emmanuel Jarus2024

Fintan Magee2024

Frankie Gonzalez2024

George F Baker III2024

Kris Markovich & Johnny Vitale2024

NeSpoon2024

Quinn Cale2024

Stevie Shao2024

Up & Over2024

Ya La'Ford2024

Zulu Painter2024

Naomi Haverland2024

Dwayne Shepherd & Brian McAllister2024

Artist Jones2023

Rhys Meatyard2023

Greater Public Studio2023

Andrea Wan2023

The Happy Mural Project2023

Kelly Quinn2023

Bunnie Reiss2023

HOXXOH2023

Chris Dyer2023

Max Sansing2023

Dave Bonzai2023

Fabstraq2023

Michael Vasquez2023

Chenlin Cai / 蔡陈林2023

Loretta Lizzio2023

Sarah Sheppard2023

Bryan Beyung & James Lee Chiahan2023

Hannah Eddy2023

James Bullough2022

MadC2022

Ben Johnston2022

Imagine2022

Marina Capdevila2022

123Klan2022

Reginald O'Neal 2022

Van Der Luc2022

Jeff Williams2022

Dream Weaver2022

Sydney Prusso2022

Ashley Cantero2022

Egypt Hagan2022

Tasko2022

Baghead2022

Nneka Jones2022

Amy Ilic-Volpe2022

Jason Harvin2022

Vitale Bros2022

Chad Mize2022

The Happy Mural Project2022

Greg Mike2021

Mwanel Pierre-Louis2021

Jenipher Chandley2021

Case Maclaim2021

Jared Wright2021

Bakpak Durden2021

Nicole Salgar2021

Ricky Watts2021

Gleo2021

Woes Martin2021

Jason Harvin2021

Miss Crit2021

Michael Fatutoa2021

Emily Ding2021

Reid Jenkins2021

Aurailieus Artist2021

Jujmo2021

Leo Gomez2021

Ya La'Ford2021

iBOMS2021

Chad Mize 2021

Brain Storm2020

Brian Butler2020

Lili Yuan2020

Happy Mural Project2020

BASK2020

Tatiana Suarez2020

Elle LeBlanc2020

Mason Schwacke2020

Alex Yanes2020

Kenny Coil and Marc Berenguer2020

Nneka Jones and Bianca Burrows2020

IBOMS2020

Cecilia Lueza2019

George Rose2019

Morning Breath2019

Vitale Brothers2019

Cory Robinson-CLEAN Campaign2019

SHOK-12019

Taylor White2019

Reda3sb2019

Princess Smith2019

Brian McAllister, Gibbs High Mural Club and Boys & Girls Club Members2019

JR-Inside Out2019

Paola Delfin2019

Jimmy Breen and Anthony Freese2019

Drew Merritt2019

Low Bros2019

Jay Hoff2019

Taj Tenfold2019

Leo Gomez2019

Palehorse2019

Blaine Fontana and Plastic Birdie2019

David Charlton2019

Todd Frain and Creative Clay2019

Haider Ali2018

Ya La Ford2018

Gibbs Rounsavall2018

Angela Faustina2018

Bekky Beukes2018

LOOK The Weird2018

Belin2018

Melanie Posner2018

Illsol2018

J and S Signs2018

Sarah Page2018

Nomad Clan2018

Tasko2018

Cecilia Lueza2018

Matt Kress2018

Michael Vahl2018

Noirs One2018

DAAS2018

Justin Wagher2018

ZuluPainter2018

Matthew Hoffman2018

Hueman2017

Joram Roukes2017

Jose Mertz2017

Stephen Palladino2017

Yok and Shero2017

Herbert Scott Davis2017

Jujmo2017

Lauren YS2017

Mikael B2017

ZuluPainter and Thirst2017

Axel Void and L.E.O.2017

Suarez Art2017

Cryptik2017

Daniel "R5" Barojas2017

Sam Yong2017

Ali Vasquez and Todd Frain2016

Angela Delaplane2016

Apexer2016

Arlin Graff2016

Pep Rally Inc.-The CLEAN Campaign2016

Daniel Mrgan2016

Pixel Pancho2016

Michael Reeder2016

Alex Pardee2016

Cecilia Lueza2016

Jade2016

Pantonio2016

Nosego2016

ZuluPainter2016

Dasic Fernandez2016

Caratoes2016

Mark Gmehling2016

Ya La Ford2016

Ink Werkz Crew2016

Andrew Spear2015

Chad Mize, James Oleson and Pinellas County Center for the Arts2015

Erik Jones2015

Hitnes2015

Hoxxoh2015

Michael Vasquez2015

Shark Toof2015

Morning Breath2015

Ricky Watts2015

Evoca2015

Carrie Jadus2015

BASK2015

Greg Mike2015

Tes One and Palehorse2015

123Klan2015

Ya La Ford2015

Carrie Jadus2015

Vitale Brothers2015

Support SHINE®

If you’re interested in supporting St. Pete’s most vibrant event, sponsorship at all levels is still available. Please contact Jenee Priebe at [email protected] or visit our SHINE Sponsorship page