Italian muralist Pepe Gaka’s newest work transformed a 60-foot downtown wall into a vibrant tribute to local symphony musicians and Utah’s native desert flora. Commissioned by PEG and the City of St. George, “The Sound of St. George” adorns the façade of the shared parking garage between The Advenire and City View St. George apartments, celebrating art, culture and place downtown.
Mayor Michele Randall praised how public art “brings color to our city and connection to our community,” while PEG’s President of Development, Matt Hansen, said they invested “because we believe it adds meaningful value and honors the spirit of St. George.”
Having created the world’s tallest mural in Pakistan, he notes this is the most square footage he has personally completed. Over eleven weeks and nearly 700 hours, Gakas design weaves the Southwest Symphony Orchestra into a tapestry desert blooms. Silhouettes of cello, violin and trumpet overlap botanical forms, creating depth with vivid reds, warm oranges and golden yellows that evoke the desert.
Gaka’s inspiration sprang from his sister’s early violin lessons, her hesitant bow strokes mirroring his own unsteady brushstrokes. A lifelong symphony enthusiast, he painted local musicians in concert attire to underscore music’s power to unite community and environment.
Southern Utah’s summer heat posed challenges. Gaka rose before dawn to sand and prime concrete patches, creating a smooth “canvas” for details. After priming, he applied an underpainting to establish tonal values. Despite extensive preparation, he didn’t lose a single day of the eleven-week schedule to rain, which helped him stay on time. When temperatures topped 100 degrees, he worked during cooler hours, using spray bottles to keep paint from drying. I personally met with Pepe as one artist to another, and it was wonderful to shop talk and hear about his other projects. Patiently, he built each layer of petals and musical motifs atop the underpainting until the composition felt harmonious.
Now complete, just blocks from Main Street, “The Sound of St. George” stands as a testament to community collaboration and artistic endurance. Whether pausing to photograph or studying intricate details, residents and visitors can witness Pepe Gaka’s latest contribution to St. George’s thriving arts landscape.
