Marco Island is a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico off Southwest Florida, linked to the mainland by bridges south of the vibrant art destination of Naples.

Whether you zoom in on a hyper-local level to a scenic Gulf Coast city like Fort Myers, or zoom out for a bird’s eye view of what’s going on across a major metropolis like Miami, you will find endless art-related opportunities reflective of the community’s spirit and a shared commitment to keeping area arts alive and thriving.

Since opening in 2009, Miami’s Wynwood Walls have evolved into a globally renowned street art museum that helped make Wynwood one of the world’s most celebrated urban revitalization projects and an oasis for cutting-edge creativity.

You’ll learn about the Tampa Museum of Art’s expansive, eclectic collections and their exciting ongoing and upcoming exhibitions. We spotlight the lively art scene in the Naples Art District, where a collective of independent artists hosts open-studio nights and other monthly events; and dedicated nonprofits like Alliance for the Arts and Lighthouse ArtCenter that have turned towns like Fort Myers and Tequesta into robust cultural centers for the arts, as well as meet some of their featured artists.

Explore the gallery offerings in the Fort Myers River District during Art Walk on the first Saturday and Sunday of each month.

You’ll have a chance to hear from individual artists working across the state about their creative inspiration—often attributed in part to Florida’s colorful wildlife and natural beauty—and see works fresh off their easels. And we’ll take you inside fine art galleries like Sheldon Fine Art, with locations in Naples and Newport, Rhode Island, and introduce you to several of their world-class artists.

One of three gallery spaces on the 10-acre campus of Alliance for the Arts in Fort Myers, Florida.

For nearly 50 years, Alliance for the Arts has stood at the cultural heart of Lee County. With dynamic exhibitions and diverse programming, the non-profit visual and performing arts center serves as a bridge between artists and the community. By championing emerging talents alongside established artists, AFTA continues to be a vibrant hub for artistic exploration and experimentation.

Kim McAninch’s mixed media work Disruptor 21 will be on display in January 2024 during McAninch’s solo exhibition, It Makes me Wonder.

AFTA aims to celebrate everything great about Florida. This includes the annual All Florida Juried Exhibition that boasts more than 700 entries and the Art in Flight program, a juried exhibition featured on the walls of Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW). Alliance for the Arts continues to establish partnerships with local businesses and organizations to ensure access to the arts for everyone.

A detail from Uninhabitable, a large-scale watercolor collaboration between artists Deborah Zwetsch and Zan Lombardo. A visual compilation of debris that lined the roads of Pine Island and Matlacha in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in 2022, the piece was created for We Contain Multitudes, a joint show at Alliance for the Arts in February 2024.

For a full and detailed schedule of events and exhibitions, visit the Alliance for the Arts website at www.artinlee.org.

Tampa Museum of Art, La Sirene, ca. 1990s, oil on canvas. 49¼ x 251⁄8", by Frantz Zéphirin. Collection of Kay and Roderick Heller.

Nestled in the heart of downtown Tampa, the Tampa Museum of Art stands as a beacon for art enthusiasts because of its iconic views of the famed Riverwalk and fantastic art. With a rich history spanning over a century, the museum showcases an eclectic mix of ancient, modern and contemporary artworks.

Tampa Museum of Art, Goodbye My Love, 2013, set of three original works. Fiberglass and automobile paint, approximately 165 x 47 x 23½" each with slight variation, by Esterio Segura. Tampa Museum of Art, Gift of Daniel Pappalardo and Susan Bellin, 2022.132-134.

The museum takes special pride in its extensive collection of Greek and Roman antiquities, and has established itself as a premier destination for 20th-century Haitian art, and post-1970 photography. TMA’s permanent collection includes pieces by luminaries such as Frank Stella, Jaume Plensa and Cindy Sherman. In addition, the museum frequently features exhibitions that reflect Tampa’s diverse community and cultural heritage. A visit promises a visual treat and an immersive experience into the world of art and creativity.

Sheldon Fine Art, Light Whisper, oil on canvas, 44 x 54", by Craig Mooney.

Celebrating more than 40 years, Sheldon Fine Art has provided professional curating and consulting to art collectors from around the world. Proudly representing over 200 American and international artists, their clients benefit from two coastal gallery locations in Naples, Florida, and Newport, Rhode Island; and a sister gallery, Spa Fine Art, located in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Sheldon Fine Art, Along the Sunflowers, oil on canvas, 48 x 48", by Mario Jung.

The breadth of the gallery’s collection spans from traditional maritime, seascapes and landscapes, to the most modern in abstract and emerging contemporary art. Sheldon’s team explores new artists monthly, allowing them to discover seasoned and emerging talent whose visionary creations inspire their clients and their personal environments. The gallery's focus is creating joy and lasting connections between artists and art lovers.

Suzie Seerey-Lester, African Parchment, acrylic, 20 x 24"

Seerey-Lester is on the board of directors of the Society of Animal Artists, as well as a member of Artists for Conservation, American Women Artists, Oil Painters of America and Art Renewal Center. She has received the prestigious Simon Combes Award for Conservation and the Rose Award, among many others.

Suzie Seerey-Lester, Sky Dive, acrylic, 48 x 11"

Seerey-Lester's paintings are hanging in several respected galleries around the country including Trailside Galleries in Jackson, Wyoming; Santa Fe Trails Fine Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico; Native Visions in Naples, Florida; the Plainsman Gallery in Tampa, Florida; and Picture This in Canada.

Suzie Seerey-Lester, Dawn Assembly, acrylic, 20 x 16"

She paints every day in her Florida studio when she is not traveling the world for new ideas. “I think what inspires me is the uniqueness of nature,” she says. “There are no straight lines—and the colors! To gather references, I spend a good amount of time in the field photographing my subjects, even if it is a clump of grass.”

Lighthouse ArtCenter, Leopard Head on Coral, hand-embellished work on paper, 40 x 40", by Helmut Koller.

The season promises many captivating exhibitions and events. Kicking off the festivities on December 7, is Deck the Walls, a community art show and sale featuring small 8-by-8-inch works by area artists. The same day, The Faculty Vernissagewill showcase the latest creations of Lighthouse ArtCenter’s talented faculty.

Lighthouse ArtCenter, Jupiter Island Morning, oil, 11 x 14", by Stephen Wysocki.

Wild Hearts, which opens January 18, 2024, is a wildlife conservation exhibition featuring awe-inspiring animal paintings by Helmut Koller, fantasy creatures sculpted by Ellen Jewett, and international award-winning conservation photographers Mac Stone and Carlton Ward, Jr.

The Elegant Threads Exhibition is one of many exhibitions hosted by the Lighthouse ArtCenter Gallery.

On March 3, 2024, the 11th Annual Plein Air Festival unites award-winning artists nationwide to capture local scenes in the open air. This week-long festival includes artist demonstrations, events and a variety of fresh art available for purchase.

Laura Pollak, Aquamarine, pastel on archival paper, 24 x 18"

Laura Pollak started painting landscapes when she was four years old and has felt the magic ever since. While she loves to paint both landscapes and abstract work, her heart is really with the abstract. “Abstract realism, to be precise,” she clarifies, “which combines my background in graphic design, with my love of vibrant colors and dramatic lighting. When I create this magical space, I’m teasing out what lies beneath the surface and is not yet seen.”

Laura Pollak, Inner Reflections, pastel on archival board, 24 x 18"

Her medium of choice is pastel, for its permanence and vibrancy. “It is immediate, luminous and direct,” she says. Pollak is best known for her ability to create an ethereal glow, where the source of light seems to come from within the painting itself and emanate outward. “It’s like coaxing out a flame from deep inside,” she explains.

Laura Pollak, Open to the Universe, pastel on archival board, 20 x 16"

Creating art is only part of the process. “Like a dialogue between friends, art must be shared and seen in order to close the circle and convey the idea,” says Pollak, who lives half the year in Naples, Florida, and the other in Greensboro, North Carolina. “I invite you to join me on this journey of discovery. Engage in the dialogue and bring your own story and experiences to complete the circle.”

Crowds enjoy the diverse array of art at ArtFest Fort Myers including this sculpture by Ruben Medina.

Nestled along the serene waterfront of downtown Fort Myers, ArtFest Fort Myers is a hidden gem for art enthusiasts. This vibrant outdoor festival, celebrating its 24th year from February 2 through February 4, 2024, has become a beloved tradition for the Southwest Florida community and visitors from around the country and worldwide. The streets come alive each year with a kaleidoscope of color and creativity. Over 200 juried artists showcase their talents, offering a diverse range of artwork that spans from traditional to contemporary. Attendees stroll through the bustling artist booths, discovering captivating sculptures, paintings and unique crafts.

Crowds enjoy the diverse array of art at ArtFest Fort Myers including this sculpture by Ruben Medina.

ArtFest Fort Myers is more than just art—it’s an experience. The festival offers delectable cuisine, live music and engaging activities for all ages.

Pati Maguire, Power, oil on canvas, 24 x 24"

“My paintings reflect the world I see, filtered by my emotions,” says Maguire. “South Florida embraces diversity and many cultures, which are reflected in the people, the cuisine, the music, architecture and art I see around me. I try to bring that vibrancy into my paintings and transmit the beauty of my surroundings.”

Pati Maguire, What a Riot!, oil on canvas, 24 x 24"

 “My imagery often attempts to transfer feelings brought up by societal events into a visual narrative,” she says. “The years spent in isolation during the pandemic have allowed me to focus on improving and experimenting with my technique, as well as looking inward to find the balance between my spiritual inner life and the physical world we navigate. Painting is both a release, an escape and a way to communicate what words cannot.”

Maggie DeMarco’s painting Riders in the Sky with an arrangement by floral designer Linda Heacock. The signature event Artful Arrangements takes place this January across studios in the Naples Arts District.

Events abound throughout the season. Studios and galleries are open for touring on Thursdays through April 2024, along with Second Saturday themed events. January brings the district’s signature event, Artful Arrangements, which features elaborate floral arrangements inspired by original artwork in studio settings. During a county-wide celebration of Hispanic arts and culture, February’s Homage to Picasso in Paradise will feature original contemporary artwork inspired by Pablo Picasso. In March, the artists will create jazz-inspired works to mark the 100th anniversary of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue.

Chris Kling, Crest Release, oil, 36 x 48"

Kling has worked as a professional artist since earning her bachelor’s degree in fine art in 1979 and has received numerous awards, honors and commissions for her landscapes, seascapes and portraiture nationwide. For years she has been exhibiting in national and international juried exhibitions and her paintings are widely collected. In recent years, Kling has been juried into exhibitions hosted by the American Impressionist Society, Oil Painters of America and the National Oil & Acrylic Painters’ Society, among others. Kling works primarily in oil in a contemporary impressionistic manner, with a focus on color, composition, value and bold brushstrokes.

Chris King, Fishing the Edge, oil, 24 x 30"

“Color sings to me and I try to use its harmony to evoke an emotional connection with others.” says Kling. She is represented in Florida by Palm City Art & Frame in Palm City; Doris Clements Interiors in Stuart and in St. Augustine by Lost Art Gallery and Sea Spirits Gallery.

Tara Funk Grim, Giverny Memories, mixed media, 30 x 40"

For Grim, her work is about “going beyond,” which means “going past where I am, where I am comfortable and in the knowing. ‘Going beyond’ has no boundaries or restrictions and the possibilities are endless,” she explains. “It is the realm of intuition, imagination and pure creation. Color is the tool I use to break down these boundaries, to move beyond my comfort zone.

Tara Funk Grim, Ibis in a Row, mixed media, 36 x 24"

Grim finds inspiration and magic in the process of painting itself during which she welcomes spontaneity, chance and unexpected opportunities. Her canvases can contain as many as 15 layers of acrylic, collage and big squirts of color squeezed right from the tube.

Flowers Galore, oil on linen, 62 x 66"

Once in New York, he established a successful studio in the very precise and demanding field of color transparency retouching. But in the late 90s, digital media began to overtake the art form and effectively put him out of business. He reinvented himself by taking up oil painting and has been working in diverse genres including portraiture, nudes, animals, floral and still lifes, all in a photorealistic style, ever since.