Around Greater Tampa Bay’s every corner, there is beauty — whether natural or manmade — and solace is easy to find.
Pablo Picasso once said, “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” If that is the case, then the residents of Greater Tampa Bay should consider themselves dusted and polished. GTB understands the importance of art as an essential building block for any flourishing community.
The area’s vibrant and diverse art culture makes it a colorful place to live and a place of refuge for artists and creative minds. From the vivid murals splashed on building walls to prestigious fine arts schools raising the next generation of groundbreaking artists, GTB is a breeding ground for creativity and expression.
Visibly Brilliant
From public art instillations and galleries to art museums celebrating the masters, the visual art of GTB is something to behold. Follow the art throughout GTB and discover what makes each community unique.
Hop aboard the trolley at St. Pete’s Waterfront District, which has the distinct honor of housing the world-class Salvador Dali Museum, containing 2,100 pieces of the master’s work. The building, a geodesic glass bubble created by architect Yann Weymouth, is a work of art on its own. Here, visitors can get lost in the surrealism of Dali, or admire works from other legends like Van Gogh and Picasso.
Downtown St. Pete houses the Central Arts District, where independent artists, studios and galleries color the landscape. The famous glass sculptures of Dale Chihuly, including the iconic 20-foot entry piece created distinctly for the Chihuly Collection site by the still-living artist, are permanent fixtures in St. Pete.
To continue a classic St. Pete art crawl, visit the ethereal glass art exhibits in the Imagine Museum in the Grand Central District. Enjoy the collection of eclectic art galleries in the Edge District and find the perfect gift at The Morean Center for Clay, makers of high-quality pottery, in the Warehouse Arts District. Learn about African American history and culture by attending a jazz show or performance at The Carter G. Woodson African American Museum in the Deuces Live District, and patron the small galleries and cafes in the charming MLK North District.
St. Pete’s commitment to the art community also includes a comprehensive strategy to become the Southeastern United States’ creative epicenter. In 2021, St. Pete took a step toward that goal, opening the 40,000-square-foot Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement, the only museum in the world dedicated exclusively to the American Arts and Crafts movement.
Clearwater is a natural work of art. With its blue waters, powder white sand and sunsets that the stroke of a paintbrush could never replicate, it is no wonder the beaches of Clearwater are regularly internationally ranked. As is true for the rest of GTB, the area’s scenic natural landscapes prove to be an inspiration for many local artists, from the tranquil bay to the bright blue Gulf of Mexico and everything in between. Bask in the city’s natural beauty, or be a patron of the local art.
Visit the community’s art galleries like the Marlene Rose Gallery, the homestead of internationally renowned sand-cast glass sculptor Marlene Rose, or admire the vibrant murals located throughout the city. Attend the area’s most popular festivals like the Sugar Sand Festival, where talented artists create sculptures out of sand, and the Sunsets at Pier 60, a nightly celebration featuring local artisans and street performers.
On the east side of Clearwater is Safety Harbor, a bright and beautiful city with a rich community of artists. The city takes pride in its local arts community. As the Public Art Committee helps artists find the right space to display their work, exhibits are constantly rotating between public buildings such as City Hall, the libraries, the Safety Harbor Museum & Cultural Center, parks and more.
Stroll through Main Street in downtown Safety Harbor and go on a Florida-esque scavenger hunt to find grapefruits that were painted on many of the buildings to celebrate the historic crop by a group of artists in 2011.
The City of Dunedin, just north of Clearwater, is an idyllic place made even more beautiful through the arts. The coastal community proudly supports its local artists.
Showing a commitment to create and maintain public art, the city started the Dunedin Public Art Master Plan in 2018. Through this project, the city makes sure that the public art that gives Dunedin its unique character stays preserved and enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. For a community with a small-town vibe within the setting of a metropolitan area, the arts play a crucial role in defining what makes Dunedin stand apart.
Across Old Tampa Bay lies Tampa’s vibrant and diverse art scene. The city’s public art has made astonishing growth over the past 35 years, and with the thoughtful relocation of important Tampa museums, both visitors and residents can embark on a “museum hop” along the Hillsborough River. Strung together with other popular destinations and an eight-acre Curtis M. Hixon Park, complete with a splash pad, the Tampa Riverwalk holds a bounty of creative and cultural experiences.
Walk, bike or Segway from museum to museum on the Tampa Riverwalk. Begin at the Florida Aquarium, where 20,000 sea creatures awe and educate. Then, stroll through 12,000 years of Tampa Tocobaga Native Americans, conquistadors and pirates of the past at the nearby Tampa Bay History Center.
The Florida Museum of Photographic Art is next on the Riverwalk. Unique to Tampa, the exhibits are a photographic journey with persuasive social messages. FMoPA exhibits sensitive subject matter, like a recent display depicting 85% of the worlds’ dried springs.
Celebrating its 100-year mark in 2020, the Tampa Museum of Art is filled with impressive contemporary, modern and ancient art. Explore the museum’s permanent collection “All in Favor,” or explore the museum’s rotating exhibitions from renowned artists. Visitors can also create their own work of art in one of the museum’s art classes.
South of St. Pete is the artistic town of Bradenton. Visitors will enjoy getting lost in the city’s Village of the Arts, an eclectic live-work community comprised of colorful historic cottages that house everything from award-winning eateries to specialty shops, studios, healing arts, delicious bakeries and Bradenton’s best art galleries.
Back up north, the Pasco Fine Arts Council offers classes from drawing to painting to pottery. The council’s mission is to provide art education and involvement opportunities for the community and stimulate the art and cultural spirit throughout Pasco County. From the council came the Pasco Fine Arts Center where local artists can display their works.
The Out of Our Hands Gallery in downtown Dade City only represents Florida artists. Owned by artists, this gallery aims to support other local, regional and state artists. Check out Locke + Crabbe Art Studio and Gallery in Lutz to see freshly painted, one-of-a-kind works from local painters.
Lights, Camera, Action
With classics like “Goodfellas” and “A Time to Kill” being filmed in the area, it is little surprise a strong film community has rooted itself in GTB.
Cinema lovers will be at home at some of GTB’s annual, critically acclaimed film festivals, such as the Tampa Bay Underground Film Festival, the Gasparilla International Film Festival, the Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and the Sunscreen Film Festival.
The area also boasts two film commissions, Film Tampa Bay and the St. Pete/Clearwater Film Commission. These nonprofits are dedicated to attracting major motion media production companies to film in GTB and offer support to help film projects in the area run smoothly.
For a quiet afternoon in front of the silver screen, visit the 1920s-era Tampa Theatre. Called one of the “10 Most Beautiful Cinemas in the World,” this lauded movie palace and molded plaster masterpiece is a Tampa treasure.
For a more intimate film experience, visit the Green Light Cinema in St. Pete. This local gem is an 80-seat art house movie theater offering a diverse line-up of indies, foreign, docs, classics and local content to the community.
A Masterful Performance
From the thriving music scene to street performers and state-of-the-art theaters, GTB offers locals plenty of opportunities to be patrons of the performing arts.
The Straz Center for the Performing Arts, true to its name, serves as an epicenter for the performing arts in GTB. Established in 1987, the grand theater hosts world renowned musicians, travelling Broadway shows and concerts from The Florida Orchestra.
The Mahaffey Theater — Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in St. Pete is a performing arts facility and concert hall located on the downtown waterfront. Feel like royalty and sit in the theater’s luxurious, European-style box seating while catching a symphony or ballet from the St. Petersburg Ballet.
Clearwater is home to Capitol Theatre and Ruth Eckerd Hall, bringing all musical tastes together. Boney James, Molly Hatchet, Ricky Skaggs and comediennes like Kathleen Madigan are just a handful of entertainers who have graced the stages here. In the company of 2,000 additional artists each year, Travis Tritt, the Beach Boys and Jay Leno are some of the performers at the Richard B. Baumgardner Center for the Performing Arts.
The University of South Florida’s College of the Arts and St. Petersburg College are two premier performing arts schools in GTB that offer concentrations in art, art history, theater, music and dance. Find inspiration in the next generation by attending one of the over 250 yearly concerts, performances, exhibitions, lectures, symposia and festivals presented by the colleges.
GTB also gives residents the opportunity to transform from spectator to performer through a plethora of performing arts schools and classes for all ages. Anyone with a love for dance, even those with two left feet, can train with the best at the Straz Center’s Patel Conservatory. Youngsters with dreams of Broadway will be at home at St. Pete Music, Acting, and Dance. At the Music Compound in Bradenton, little ones and adults alike can learn to master a variety of instruments.
#PicturePerfect
Most Instagrammable Public Art Spots in GTB
- Phoebe: The Flamingo Statue at the Tampa International Airport
- Two words: Giant. Flamingo. A photo in front of this floor-to-ceiling statue will stop followers in their tracks.
- Marvelous murals
- Hundreds of murals splash the walls throughout GTB that range from abstract, to figurative, to just plain funky. Embark on a scavenger hunt — making sure to stop in downtown St. Pete, home to the annual SHINE Mural Festival — to find which one might make the perfect photo backdrop. That could be easier said than done: They are all kinds of perfect.
- Mangrove Moonset Located in Cavalaire Square in New Port Richey, Mangrove Moonset is a red brick sculpture of a sunset gleaming between two mangroves and has been part of Missouri Avenue for 20 years.
- Orange Lake In downtown New Port Richey, Orange Lake has stunning views from the Riverfront Walk, sunrise kayaks and gorgeous fountains. Be on the lookout for the plein air painters setting up their easels to paint the scenic waterfront.
- The “Bending Arc” sculpture at the St. Pete Pier
- This fascinating aerial sculpture by Janet Echelman spans 424 feet and measures 72 feet at its tallest point. During the day, the twine of the sculpture billows peacefully in the wind, constantly changing shape. At night, it transforms into a glowing masterpiece of magenta and violet light.
- Clearwater Beach at sunset
- Let nature do its thing to produce the perfect photo op. The pink hues of Clearwater’s iconic sunsets that have inspired many artists to paint their likeness will create a photo to be cherished long after it is posted.
- The Tampa Theatre
- Channel Old Hollywood glam by taking a photo in front of the flashing historic marquee.
Posies Flower Truck
- Charming, powder blue truck? Check. Beautiful flowers? Check. The Posies Flower Truck is like a mobile art installation. Purchase a bouquet and pose in front of the old time-y truck for the cutest Instagram photo. The flower truck parks at various locations throughout GTB, so check on the Posies Flower Truck website to find where it will be next.
- The Salvador Dali Museum in St. Pete
- The museum is a photo op in and of itself, however, Dali’s eccentric surrealism serves as the perfect Instagram fodder. No need to caption photos taken in here — the photos will do all the talking.
- Fairgrounds St. Pete
- This interactive art museum is a must-see. The neon colors of the exhibits will give photos a mysterious, dream-like quality that is akin to “Alice in Wonderland.”
By Shelley Akins.
