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- Kathryn Kelly with Artist Juan Diaz
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- Artist Juan Diaz
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- Artist Juan Diaz
FORT MYERS, FL — January 25, 2026 — Award-winning, Naples-based artist Juan Diaz has completed and permanently installed a monumental large scale mural titled The Growth of Our Beloved Neighborhood at The Heights Foundation’s Educational Building Main Lobby in Fort Myers, Florida. The mural was officially installed on January 17, 2026.
Commissioned as a public art project, the mural spans twelve hand-built wooden panels,measuring 12.6 feet by 21 feet, and was created using acrylic latex. The work was developed in collaboration with the children and elders of the Harlem Heights neighborhood, reinforcing the Heights Foundation’s long-standing mission to serve and uplift the community.
The mural reflects the 25 year history and impact of the Heights Foundation within Harlem Heights, weaving together the neighborhood’s past, present, and future into a unified visual narrative.
Conversations for the project began in September 2024, with the agreement finalized in late October 2025. The final composition was approved by Kathryn Kelly, Founder, CEO, and President of The Heights Foundation.
Throughout the development process, Diaz identified deep parallels between his own family’s experiences and those of Harlem Heights families.
This personal connection inspired him to include representations of his family and himself within the mural as a heartfelt tribute.
Juan Diaz began the project in early November 2025, hand-building each of the twelve panels. A community painting day was later hosted at the Heights Foundation’s auditorium, where neighborhood children and elders contributed by painting the mural’s underlayer, infusing the work with collective energy and spirit.
Diaz began painting the final approved composition on December 14, 2025. The painting process spanned 24 consecutive days, with the artist working up to 17 hours per day. The completed mural, The Growth of Our Beloved Neighborhood (2026), was permanently installed on Saturday, January 17, 2026.
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On January 17, 2026, the Public Art commissioned mural titled “The Growth of Our Beloved Neighborhood, 2026”, created in collaboration with the children and elders of Harlem Heights, was permanently installed at The Heights Foundation’s Educational Building Main Lobby in Fort Myers, FL.
The Growth of Our Beloved Neighborhood, 2026
By Juan Diaz
Acrylic Latex on Twelve Wooden Panels
151.2 x 252 in. (384.048 x 640.08 cm)
The Heights Foundation Permanent Collection.
MURAL’S DESCRIPTION.
The mural “The Growth of Our Beloved Neighborhood” celebrates the vibrant spirit of Southwest Florida, with a focus on the Harlem Heights neighborhood and the transformative impact of the Heights Foundation and the Heights Center. Since the Foundation’s inception in 2000, the area has thrived, fueled by dedicated efforts and a clear purpose.
A gladiolus field covers the land, beautifully depicting the area’s beginnings as a farm-working community and serving as the ideal backdrop to tell its story. A sunny sky with a hint of outer space represents infinite possibilities that lie beyond.
The mature tree to the right embodies home, strong families, and resilient communities. Below, in black and white, the two children picking gladiolus flowers in front of a modest home acknowledged and honored the neighborhood’s history. In the foreground, the older woman sitting embodies the grandmothers of our community—matriarchs who form the heart and soul of families, offering unconditional love, wisdom, and guidance. The young couple behind her, filled with hope and excitement for their newborn, gazes out toward the horizon, dreaming of a bright and promising future.
In the bottom left, an adult woman reads to children, underscoring educators’ vital role in shaping the community’s future. At the center of the mural, five children joyfully play instruments and create art, reflecting the vibrant present and the Heights Center’s mission to nurture well-rounded individuals through education and cultural enrichment.
At the top, a high school graduate smiles with joy, hope, and pride, symbolizing a bright future ahead. To the left, a group of young professionals stands confidently against a city skyline, representing the wealth of opportunities that await.
Finally, the wavy stairway that crosses the composition depicts life’s journey, filled with opportunities disguised as challenges. It is up to each of us, with the support of family and community, to navigate this path with commitment and determination to improve our chances of leading a rewarding and purposeful life.
This powerful imagery encapsulates the ongoing journey from a humbled past to a promising future of strong, self-sufficient families.
“The Growth of Our Beloved Neighborhood” reflects our part as significant contributors to the area’s transformation, growth, and development.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Juan Diaz is an award-winning contemporary painter and household name, based in Naples, Florida, known for his large-scale murals and community-driven public art projects that explore identity, heritage, and collective resilience.
Juan Diaz was born in 1981 in Bogota, Colombia. His father graduated from Colombia’s National University with an emphasis in fine art and recognized his sons natural creative intelligence and artistic gifts by age 5. After graduating from Naples High School in 1999, Diaz studied art history, materials, and techniques independently. Jonathan Green Studios granted a three-year Artist residency, (2006-2009) and more recently Diaz has assisted world renowned artist Marcus Jansen at his Fort Myers studios.
Since the late 1990s, Diaz has used painting and drawing to explore the human condition. In
2010, he added performing art and installations to investigate the relationship between life and
death. His work reflects a constant search to express his understanding of the human experience and shows a desire to break out of his comfort zone.
Diaz’s work has been featured at the Baker Museum of Art/Artis-Naples, The Naples Depot
Museum, Florida Gulf Coast University, and Art Basel Miami Beach. Commissions include The
Heights Foundation, Collier County Government in Florida, the Holocaust Museum of Southwest
Florida, and The Naples Art Association.
Diaz was the recipient of the Museum50 Juried Award in 2025, the Southwest Florida 2013
FACE Award for Culture & Arts, awarded by Gulfshore Life Business, and the 1999 Porter Goss Award. His style, mastery of drawing, and use of oils have earned him various award, including Best in Show and multiple scholarships.
Website: http://www.juandiazart.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juandiazart/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/DiazJuanM
