Blake Harrison: The Artist Who Stayed

Blake Harrison is a 55-year-old artist known for his murals in and around Gainesville. Like Tom Petty, Harrison has embedded himself in Gainesville’s culture. Harrison moved to Gainesville in the early ‘70s, and he fell in love with the rugged hippy community. Despite the harsh financial climate for artists in Gainesville, Harrison loves Gainesville’s people and its physical space. Instead of worrying about notoriety, Harrison is satisfied with working in his remote studio in Micanopy, Florida, where he creates work that he hopes makes the surrounding community a happier, more loving place.