Before you even walk through the door at SPOCS Orthodontics in St. Petersburg, you’ll notice something: the building itself tells a story. A sweeping mural covers the exterior — dolphins, sea creatures, and the unmistakable energy of a city that wears its art on its walls. This is how Dr. Mansour wanted SPOCS to meet the community. And the story behind it is worth knowing.
Who Created the SPOCS Mural?
The mural is the work of Diego Sanchez-Barillas — a 21-year-old artist, RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) graduate, and current MFA candidate at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan. Diego is the son of Dr. Ingrid Les, Dr. Mansour’s sister-in-law, and his talent was well known within the family long before he took on SPOCS as a project.
Diego Sanchez-BarillasDiego’s#x2019; work sits at the intersection of illustration, animation, and large-scale visual storytelling. The SPOCS mural isn’t his only contribution to the practice — he also designed the SPOCS logo. From the mark on the front door to the art that covers the building, the visual identity of SPOCS was shaped by the same talented hand.
The mural was painted in the fall of 2025 — completed in approximately three days — and has been turning heads on the street ever since.
Why St. Pete? The City’s Mural Culture Explained
St. Petersburg, Florida has become one of the most mural-rich cities in the United States. What began as a grassroots arts movement has grown into a defining feature of the city’s identity — with hundreds of murals across the city’s neighborhoods, from the waterfront to the Central Arts District.
The city’s commitment to public art is intentional and deeply rooted. St. Pete has been recognized nationally for its arts culture, and murals are a central part of that. They’re on warehouses, on restaurants, on the sides of businesses that want to be part of the visual fabric of the city.
When Dr. Mansour opened SPOCS in November 2025, commissioning a mural wasn’t a marketing decision — it was a community statement. “Murals are very native to St. Pete,” he explains. “The city is full of them, so we thought we’d do one that chose the character of the city.”
What Does the Mural Depict?
The mural is a celebration of St. Petersburg — its coastal identity, its energy, and the life that surrounds it. The imagery draws from the natural and cultural landscape of the area:
- Dolphins — a natural symbol of coastal Florida and the Tampa Bay area
- Sea creatures — reflecting the city’s relationship with the water that defines it
- The colors and vibrancy of a city by the sea — warm, layered, alive
- The SPOCS identity woven into the center — the practice as part of the city, not just located in it
The overall effect is of a place that belongs here — not a generic orthodontic office, but a practice that’s planted itself in the life of St. Petersburg with intention and pride.
How Long Did It Take to Paint?
Three days. For a mural of this scale and detail, that’s a testament to Diego Sanchez-BarillasDiego’s#x2019; skill and preparation. The work was completed in the fall of 2025 — just before SPOCS opened its doors in November — and was one of the final touches that made the building feel finished and fully itself.
Large-scale murals of this kind require significant planning before a single brushstroke hits the wall — composition, color palette, scaling, material selection. Diego Sanchez-BarillasDiego’s#x2019; background in illustration and animation means he works with that kind of precision, which is why three days produced something that looks like it took much longer.
The Logo Connection: Diego Also Designed the SPOCS Brand
The SPOCS logo — the mark that appears on everything from the website to the business cards to the sign above the door — was also Diego Sanchez-BarillasDiego’s#x2019; work. That means the two most immediately visible elements of the SPOCS brand identity share the same creative DNA.
There’s something meaningful about that. The logo and the mural weren’t designed by a committee or a generic branding agency. They came from a single artist who understood the practice, the city, and the vision — and translated all of it into visual form. For a practice built around the idea that every patient is known by name, having a brand identity that’s genuinely personal feels exactly right.
About Diego Sanchez-Barillas
Diego Sanchez-Barillas is a visual artist and illustrator currently completing his MFA at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in Manhattan. He holds a degree from RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) and specializes in illustration, animation, and large-scale public art. He is the son of Dr. Ingrid Les, sister-in-law of Dr. Mansour, and created both the SPOCS logo and the exterior mural.
Why Dr. Mansour Wanted SPOCS to Be Part of St. Pete’s Art Scene
Dr. Mansour moved his practice to St. Petersburg from the Hudson Valley in November 2025 — a deliberate choice to build something new in a city he believes in. The mural is part of how he introduced SPOCS to that city.
“Murals are very native to St. Pete,” he says. “The city is full of murals, so we thought we’d do one that chose the character of the city.” That instinct — to join the city’s visual conversation rather than simply occupy space in it — says something about how SPOCS approaches everything. Not as a franchise, not as a corporate practice, but as a place that’s genuinely part of the community it serves.
Come See It in Person
You’ll spot the mural the moment you pull up. It covers the exterior of the building — hard to miss, easy to love. And once you’re inside, you’ll find that the same care and intention behind that mural is in everything we do. Because your smile deserves more than a great result. It deserves a great experience getting there.
SPOCS Orthodontics is located in St. Petersburg, Florida. Complimentary consultations are available for new patients — no referral needed. Call 727-242-8000 or schedule online at spocsorthodontics.com.
Come see the mural — and while you’re here, book your complimentary consultation with Dr. Mansour. Call 727-242-8000 or schedule online at spocsorthodontics.com.
