West Palm Beach, FL – August 5, 2026 – Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts has unveiled
a new mural designed by 1998 Visual Arts alumnus and current Visual Arts teacher Ryan Toth.
The large-scale installation, titled "The Magic Starts Here," spans the entire cafeteria and was
painted throughout the summer of 2026.

For Toth, the Art Nouveau-inspired mural was meant to capture not only the school's creative
programs but also "24 hours at Dreyfoos." The mural begins with the school's iconic banyan tree
(estimated to be over 100 years old), the Dreyfoos campus, and the phrase "The Magic Starts
Here," before following a continuous purple ribbon that weaves through each of the school's
artistic disciplines. Purple birds transition into dance, theatre, communications, digital media,
visual arts, and music before returning to the birds and the banyan tree, completing a cycle that
symbolizes the interconnectedness of the arts and the daily life at Dreyfoos.

"The vision was to represent all of the art areas, for it to be whimsical and magical and
colorful—a place that would represent an art school, but bring that sort of Dreyfoos magic that
we encourage with the students every single day," said Toth.

Beyond the narrative, Toth encourages students, alumni, and visitors to take a closer look.
Throughout the artwork, Toth incorporated hidden "Easter eggs" that celebrate Dreyfoos
traditions, history, and the shared memories of generations of students. "Being an original alum
from the original campus, I wanted to pull in that sort of history and magic," Toth said. Among
those details is the inclusion of Dreyfoos' original "paint drip" logo, which was designed by
former Visual Arts teacher Jane Grandusky, who also taught Toth during his years as a student.
The tribute creates a full-circle moment that honors the educators and school history that
continue to inspire new generations of Dreyfoos students.

Blake Bennett, the Principal of Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, stated "When
students see this mural, I hope they see themselves reflected in it. They will recognize the artistic
disciplines they love, the traditions that connect them to those who came before them, and the
endless possibilities that begin here at Dreyfoos."

Before creating “The Magic Starts Here,” Toth completed another large-scale mural for the
Comet Cafe at Palm Beach Public Elementary School in 2025, where he volunteered more than
100 hours of his time and artistic talent to create a permanent installation.

For more information about the Dreyfoos School of the Arts Foundation and how to support its
programs, please visit www.soafi.org or contact info@soafi.org.

Photo Credit: Eszter Veres