Kissimmee, Florida | January 15, 2026
The city of Kissimmee added a new expression of public art and cultural pride this Thursday with the official unveiling of the Dominican Identity Mural, a work that pays tribute to the history, identity, and values of the Dominican people, and which now beautifies the downtown urban landscape.
The event was spearheaded by the House of Dominican Culture, which held a traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony in an emotional community event that brought together local authorities, diplomatic representatives, business leaders, and members of the Dominican and Latin American community of Central Florida.
Among those present were Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa; the Consul General of the Dominican Republic, Antonio Rosario Pimentel; Commissioner Noel Ortiz; the president of the Dominican Chamber of Commerce in Central Florida, José Rodríguez; as well as community leaders and the owners of El Rey del Pollo restaurant, where the mural is located and which served as the host for this cultural initiative.
The work is the result of a collaboration between the House of Dominican Culture, Osceola Arts, and the Downtown Kissimmee CRA, and was created by renowned Dominican artist William Bautista. The mural offers a visual journey through the most representative elements of Dominican culture, integrating history, music, nature, and tradition in a vibrant and contemporary composition.
Among the symbols depicted are the Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration, as an expression of the courage and sacrifice of the Dominican people; the Malecón of Santo Domingo, reflecting the urban and musical dynamism of the country; and dancers dressed in the colors of the national flag in honor of Merengue Típico, a cultural heritage that embodies Dominican joy and resilience.
The country’s natural beauty also plays a leading role in the work, with images of the palmchat, the Caribbean coastlines, and the Jarabacoa waterfall, symbols of biodiversity and the harmony between the land, tradition, and progress. During the inaugural ceremony, the president of the House of Dominican Culture, Ingrid Zapata Ravelo, emphasized that the mural “represents a permanent testament to our identity and our roots, projected in a public space that fosters cultural exchange and the recognition of our heritage within the diaspora.”
The organization extended special thanks to the owners of El Rey del Pollo restaurant for opening their doors and supporting an initiative that strengthens the sense of belonging and the visibility of the Dominican community in Kissimmee.
With this artwork, the Mural of Dominican Culture is established as a meeting point, a place of remembrance, and a source of pride not only for Dominicans but also for the broader Latin American community in Central Florida.
The Artist’s Vision
The mural’s creator, William Bautista, explained that the work represents a visual journey through the cultural identity and pride of the Dominican Republic, a country that has profoundly shaped both his personal life and his artistic development.
“As an artist born in the Dominican Republic, my work seeks to celebrate our traditions, our history, and the natural beauty that defines us, projecting them onto a global stage,” he said.
Bautista noted that the Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration symbolizes the defense of national sovereignty, while the Malecón of Santo Domingo reflects the vitality of modern Dominican life, closely linked to music and community. The dancers with the national flag pay homage to Merengue Típico, whose energy represents the cultural heartbeat of the country.
The presence of nature—from the palmchat to the mountains and waterfalls—reinforces the message of balance between humanity and its environment. “These elements symbolize the harmony between the people and the land, tradition and progress,” he affirmed.
With a career that has evolved from realism and hyperrealism to anamorphic 3D art, Bautista conceives this mural as more than just a visual work: “It is a personal tribute to my roots, an image that unites history, culture, and nature, and that celebrates the spirit of a nation proud of its past and hopeful for its future.”
