the public art murals & projects of skip dyrda
This collection highlights the artwork I’ve created for public spaces—mostly murals, but also a handful of unique community projects that were meant to be seen and enjoyed by everyone. Some pieces were officially commissioned, others were simply supported by the community, but each one was created with the same intention: to bring art into everyday places.
Explore each project by selecting an image
Pages From Our Librarys Past
This mural is painted on the exterior east of the new Punta Gorda Library with towering, human‑sized books where children sit and read alongside a librarian. At the center, an oversized scrapbook opens to real newspaper clippings from Charlotte County’s library history, backed by shelves of meticulously painted books with accurate dust jackets and titles.
Tails From the Harbor
Painted beneath a bridge along Punta Gorda’s Harborwalk, this mural transforms the concrete into a row of massive, weathered portholes overlooking Charlotte Harbor. Through each one, viewers glimpse the marine life that thrives where the Peace River meets the harbor, creating the illusion of standing inside an old ship.
Ladies Remembered
This two‑wall mural in Punta Gorda celebrates seven remarkable women who helped define the city’s character across generations. Representing fields from education and business to healthcare, history, and civic leadership, each woman’s legacy continues to influence the community today.
Our First Firehouse
This two‑panel mural inside Fire Station #1 traces the history of Punta Gorda’s Fire Department, from changing gear and technology to the volunteers who once raced from their jobs when the alarm rang. One wall features a balcony scene of evolving equipment, while the other highlights an early fire truck, the original firehouse and the daily life of the station’s volunteer firemen.
The Man Who Came to Dinner
On the top deck of the Palm Avenue Parking Garage, this mural reimagines the elevator tower as the entrance to a classic playhouse inspired by the Players Theatre. The elevator doors serve as theatrical portals beside a ticket window, framed by posters for The Man Who Came to Dinner. Overhead, the marquee announces the show and its leading actor, inviting viewers into a moment of Sarasota’s theatrical past.