TAMPA, Fla. — An artist is embarking on a nationwide expedition to use the power of art to promote unity and acceptance, starting in St. Petersburg. 

Lisa Marie Thalhammer describes herself as a lifelong artist. She painted her first mural when she was 16 years old to pay her way through art school. Thalhammer is now on a journey to spread her work — and a message — to every corner of the country through the LOVE Mural Tour.

"My ultimate goal with this mural project is to really promote an expanded understanding of acceptance," she said. "Where LGBTQ issues is a cornerstone of my messaging, the LOVE mural is really about a broader message of acceptance and how we can accept all humanity, looking at each other really as humans and understanding LOVE as an energy that interconnects all of us."

Artist Lisa Thalhammer aims to paint a ‘LOVE Mural’ in all 50 states by the end of 2024. (Spectrum News)

It will take Thalhammer more than 100 cans of paint to transform the wall on the back of Body Electric Yoga Company into a rainbow, with the word "love" in the middle. Thalhammer pained the first LOVE mural in Washington D.C. in 2017, a time she felt the country was split and in need of a healing gesture.

Six years later, Thalhammer sees that need once again.

“We divide ourselves into red states and blue states and we often forget that we’re the United States, people of all different types of color," she said.

Thalhammer wants her art to spark conversation about how to solve problems in our society and give people hope. As part of the LGBTQ+ community, Thalhammer said she sometimes struggled with coming out and being proud, but she does not want others to feel that way.

“When we’re experiencing those challenges of not being accepted, to come and find a big beautiful rainbow wall that A.) is physically going to uplift your mood, your spirit and bring you joy, and then B.) let you know there’s other people there who are in your corner who are supporting you and that you’re not alone," Thalhammer said.

It's Thalhammer's passion for the LOVE mural project that keeps her working six days a week. On Saturday, April 15, Thalhammer and Body Electric Yoga will host a kickoff celebration for the LOVE mural from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. 

It will take more than 100 cans of paint to complete the rainbow mural, with the word ‘love’ at the center. (Spectrum News)

Thalhammer's goal is to have a mural in every state by the end of 2024. Then, she wants to have one on all seven continents by 2029.

After that, Thalhammer plans to take her mural art up to space to orbit around the Earth.