In St. Petersburg where sun-soaked walls double as canvases and creativity spills onto every corner, one figure has persistently left his mark. Chad Mize, with an unmistakable style and determined vision, has become the bandleader of the St. Petersburg art scene. If this city has a patron saint or guiding hand, it would be him: the godfather of St. Pete art.
Born in New Orleans but raised in Bradenton, Mize has Florida roots that run deep. Like many creatives, he ventured elsewhere before returning home. He earned a BFA in Visual Communications from Ole Miss near Oxford, Mississippi, then moved to Boston in his twenties. There, he honed his skills with an unlikely gig, drawing sidewalk character portraits in front of Faneuil Hall. Unpolished though it may have been, the job laid the groundwork for the improvisational style he still embraces.
In 1998, Mize put those skills to work as an illustrator for a digital textbook company, creating Flash animations that brought educational content to life. Laid off just a week before 9/11, he pivoted quickly, co-founding the creative studio Bluelucy with partner Phillip Clark. The change also brought him back to Florida.
He considered settling in Sarasota but ultimately chose St. Petersburg, thanks in large part to the Dali Museum. If a small city could support a world-class institution like that, he reasoned, there had to be more potential. St. Pete was a sleepy town in the early 2000s, with very few galleries or even businesses open in downtown, but it was just at the beginning of the renaissance of the area. A 2000 article in the Tampa Bay Times teased, “Don’t Look Now, but St. Pete is Almost Hip.” Emphasis on “almost.” Still, the high-rises came, the BayWalk complex opened, the Rays baseball franchise launched, and the city slowly blossomed. Mize was there, nudging it forward.
Anyone who lived through the 2000s art scene remembers the warehouse parties with Mize and the Vitale Brothers, which were gritty, electric gatherings pulsing with creativity. A regular cast of artists, dreamers, and young creatives filled the spaces, all hungry for something authentic. Galleries began popping up along Central Avenue: Craftsman House, Shapiro’s, Davidson Fine Art. In 2009, the transformation of the 600 block into a hub for artist-run shops and galleries gave local creators both a gathering space and a venue to sell work. Bluelucy, at 653 Central Avenue, thrived. This was foundational for Chad and his creative work.
Some of the city’s first murals were painted by Mize behind Bluelucy. Iconic images like Twiggy and Mr. Sun still remain, albeit partially obscured by “upgrades.” Each month, Bluelucy hosted themed exhibitions featuring dozens—sometimes over a hundred—local artists. These shows offered more than exposure; they offered income. As Mize has always understood: artists need to eat, too. That mentor-like generosity only furthered his reputation as the community’s godfather.
2010 marked a turning point. That year, Mize met his now-husband Dan Schmidt, and while traveling, he spotted a shirt design: Paris/Tokyo/London/Torrance. Inspired, he created his own version: Paris/Tokyo/London/St. Pete, a now-ubiquitous design that can be spotted on sidewalks and in shops all over the city. No, it wasn’t an original concept, and yes, others have copied it since. But Mize made it happen and made it iconic.
Chad Mize became pivotal to the art scene. Bluelucy closed in 2014 due to increased rents, but as a door closes, a window opens. In 2015 he was asked to help with the brand new SHINE Mural Festival, and coordinated closely with Jenee Priebe, the director of the festival. He worked tirelessly behind the scenes, assisting in community projects and helping any way needed. He has now personally painted over 120 murals of his own design, mostly in Tampa Bay, but also in Miami and other cities. Whether or not he is in the spotlight, he’s always involved in a myriad of projects: painting, mentoring, designing, and building.
In 2018, he opened MIZE Gallery on MLK Jr. Street. For five years, it became a vital space for monthly exhibitions, featuring a growing roster of Bay Area talent. Even during the pandemic, he adapted with virtual shows and online sales, further helping to support the arts community, and showcasing his own tenacity in the face of difficulties.
Muralist, designer, painter, and entrepreneur, Mize uses bold cartoon-like imagery to comment on politics, religion, contemporary culture and to add just plain fun into the life of his work. His unmistakable style appears everywhere, adorning Coach brand bags and gracing the faces of paddle-ball rackets, on t-shirts and walls across the city.
The short-lived opening of the SPACE gallery in an old giant formerly PSTA bus depot on south 28th street in 2023 not only expanded the capacity to show the work of local artists but added performance to the mix. It hearkened back to those early warehouse art parties in the aughts with loud boisterous crowds and cutting-edge art. It was the place everyone wanted to see and be seen. Everyone would talk about it for days. Artists included Bay area stalwarts like Bask, Zulu Painter, Vitale Brothers, IBOMBS, Frank Strunk III, and of course Andrea Pawlisz.
Pawlisz, a key collaborator at both SPACE and MIZE Gallery, worked closely with Mize on every facet of these ventures. Unfortunately, the city wasn’t keen on the large gatherings at SPACE, and it shuttered after only a few shows. But its short life only added to Mize’s legend. He keeps pushing boundaries, making things happen, elevating others.
2025 brings the year of the museum and new opportunities to experience his work. Mize is currently a featured artist at the James Museum, displaying his work in the beautiful stone entry canyon. He is curating art pop-ups at Green Bench Brewery. He has opened a new “Side Spot” mini-gallery next to his husband Dan’s Uptown Eats restaurant. And in a full circle moment, Mize’s work will also soon also be displayed at the Dali Museum. The very venue that he visited as a child and that inspired him to move to St. Petersburg has now asked him to participate in an upcoming exhibition. “Outside in: New Murals Inspired by Dali” is scheduled to open May 24 and will feature the work of twelve former SHINE mural artists painting inside the museum walls. It’s a fitting tribute to the city’s evolution and to Mize’s role in it.
Chad Mize is everywhere. His artwork wraps buildings, pops from t-shirts, and brightens unexpected corners of the city. He curates, paints, designs, and connects. And when his name is mentioned, it’s often with reverence. A passionate connector, a supporter of others, and a creator of unmistakable work, his influence spans decades. He’s a role model and a mentor. Just don’t expect him to ask you to kiss the ring. •
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