Gulf To Bay St. Pete Clearwater FL

In 2022, Condé Nast Traveler named St. Pete as one of the top U.S. cities with a “big-time arts scene.” There’s much to experience in St. Pete/Clearwater’s arts scene, with its illustrious museums, striking murals, dozens of galleries and studios, and first-class performing arts.

St. Pete/Clearwater’s museums offer everything from Greek and Roman antiquities, work from Old Masters, Impressionists, and contemporary art using the most cutting-edge technology. Eight museums are clustered in downtown St. Pete amid bustling shops and restaurants.

Visitors from across the world are drawn to the museum dedicated to Spanish surrealist Salvador Dalí. Holding more than 2,400 works and artifacts, the permanent collection is one of the most comprehensive in the world. Guests can learn information about Dalí's masterworks by viewing them with the Dalí app, thanks to augmented reality. Rotating special exhibitions feature giants of art history and an emphasis on surrealism.

THREE TO SEE: The building: A work of art unto itself, featuring a double-helix staircase in the center of the museum that was inspired by Dalí’s fascination with DNA, and a large geodesic bubble made of 1,062 triangular pieces of glass known as the “Enigma” that erupts from the outside. Dalí Alive 360: This interactive installation created by the museum projection-maps animations of Dalí’s works from the floor to the ceiling in the new Dalí Dome structure in the museum’s Avant-Garden. Dalí Lives: Artificial intelligence brings the talking likeness of the artist to life on screens throughout the museum.

Perched on St. Pete’s waterfront among parks and bustling Beach Drive is the city’s first art museum. The permanent collection features artworks from across the world spanning 5,000 years, enhanced by rotating exhibitions and a robust photography collection.

THREE TO SEE: The Houses of Parliament, Effect of Fog, London, Claude Monet, 1904. Poppy, Georgia O’Keeffe, 1927. Leviathan Zodiac (The World Stage: Israel), Kehinde Wiley, 2011.

With a stunning imported sandstone façade, the museum beckons visitors from downtown’s lively Central Avenue, just blocks from the waterfront. It features an impressive private collection of bronze sculptures and paintings of cowboys, Native Americans, landscapes and animals, and contemporary art created by living Western and Native American artists, as well as superstars like Andy Warhol.

THREE TO SEE: The Jewel Box, an intimate gallery showcasing dazzling Native American jewelry. The Frontier Gallery includes many artworks featuring cowboy life and chronicles the history of the American West. Native Artists Gallery: Discover 20th- and 21st-century Native American artists working in a variety of media and styles.

Contemporary glass art from American and international artists is on full, dazzling display at the museum in St. Pete’s Grand Central District. With more than 500 works, the 34,000-square-foot museum showcases founding and leading artists from the studio glass movement.

THREE TO SEE: Portal Icosahedron, a mind-boggling sculpture made of glass, titanium, LED lights, and mirrors by Anthony James. If a River Could Tell a Story, a “tour de force” installation created specifically for the Imagine Museum by Martin Blank. Nirvana (1000 Buddhas), glass Buddha heads displayed together in a darkened, intimate gallery.

One of only two museums in the world entirely dedicated to living legend glass artist Dale Chihuly, it’s unique in that it is the only installation in a building designed specifically for his colorful artwork. A 20-foot site-specific sculpture on downtown’s bustling Central Avenue makes a statement. Bonus: Admission includes a glassblowing demonstration at the Morean Glass Studio and Hot Shop, located across the street.

THREE TO SEE: Check out the installations Ruby Red Icicle Chandelier, Mille Fiori and Ikebana as they shine vibrant hues in dramatically lit galleries.

Featuring work from an important private collection, it is the first museum in the world dedicated to the Arts and Crafts movement. The stunning modern architecture and well-presented collection of the 137,000-square-foot, five-story museum showcases the handcrafted furniture, pottery, lighting, photography, and paintings of the period from 1890 to 1930.

THREE TO SEE: The building: This architectural marvel includes an egg-shaped ovoid structure and spiral staircase wrapped in Venetian plaster**. Architects Gallery:** See works from members of the Prairie School, including Frank Lloyd Wright, George Grant Elmslie and George Washington Maher. Incredible installations: Entire rooms from the movement have been painstakingly restored and installed at the museum, including the Culbertson House Entry Hall from Pasadena, California.

A magical, art-meets-technology immersive experience awaits in a 15,000-square-foot space in the Warehouse Arts District. Celebrating “weird, wacky and wonderful Florida,” the attraction is centered around the Mermaid Star Motel, where there is a mystery to solve through a choose-your-own- adventure journey through environments entirely created by artists.

THREE TO SEE: CENTCOM, a Twistee Treat-shaped spaceship filled with interactive gaming elements that respond to motion created by the Fairgrounds team, and glitch art. Shrimpfinity, the installation that celebrates the pink crustacean with an oversized shrimp cocktail and a “shrimpy” soundtrack created by artist duo Milagros Collective. The Bait Ball, an 8-foot-tall “zoetrope” that blends 3D printing, light, motion and sounds that simulate fish swimming alongside visitors, made by local artist Devon Brady.

Perched on the St. Pete Pier, the more than 100-year-old museum delivers interesting history about the Sunshine City, including its pioneering role in aviation. It continues to evolve to reflect the growing city; there are plans for a 10,000-squarefoot additional building featuring an illuminated metal sculpture by artist Ya La’ford on its exterior.

THREE TO SEE: Flight One Gallery, featuring the world's first airliner, located just steps from where aviation history was made. Schrader’s Little Cooperstown, the Guinness-certified largest collection of baseballs signed by a staggering number of athletes and celebrities. The Odditorium features an approximately 3,000-year-old Egyptian mummy.

The museum honoring the millions of people who died or suffered in the Holocaust is one of the largest in the world and one of only three accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. The stories of victims and survivors are told through educational and art exhibits, with a mission to prevent future genocide. The museum is expanding to serve as the permanent home of Elie Wiesel’s entire collection of letters, photographs and more – some of which have never been seen.

THREE TO SEE: The museum has one of the few remaining railroad boxcars the Nazis used to transport Jews and other prisoners to concentration camps. History, Heritage and Hope includes original artifacts, videos, and photos that trace the beginnings of antisemitism and the rise of Hitler and the Nazis. Kaddish in Wood is an exhibition of handmade woodcarvings by Dr. Herbert Savel that depict Nazi victims taken from photographs.

The museum named for Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the scholar who initiated Black History Month has a mission to preserve and protect African American history. Last year the museum received a promise of thousands of Black history artifacts from a collector to be displayed there in the coming years. It’s located in the Deuces Live District, the hub of Black-owned businesses and entertainment.

THREE TO SEE: Visit the historical Black History Matters mural painted by local artists on the street in front of the museum. African American Heritage Trail: The museum is the starting point of the walking tours of African American neighborhoods marked by 19 placards that give an overview of the impact of African Americans on St. Pete. Legacy Garden: The museum’s picture-perfect grounds area is a must-see.

This small but mighty museum is part of St. Petersburg College and sits on its Tarpon Springs campus. The modern and contemporary museum boasts a sizeable collection containing works by 20th-century artists Allen Leepa and Abraham Rattner. Exhibitions showcase their contemporaries, including Picasso, Renoir and Chihuly, as well as national, regional, and local artists and incorporate interactive elements.

THREE TO SEE: A display of Abraham Rattner’s studio provides insight into how Rattner worked with rotating displays of sketches, notes, art supplies, and journals. Pablo Picasso’s Guernica (1937) mural reproduction, the only authorized full-scale one known in the world. Watchdog by Mary Engle, a sculpture of a dog covered in watch parts that is the subject of a coloring page that visitors can decorate and take home.

Kids can go wild exploring, playing, and learning at this hands-on museum, just a short car ride to downtown and the beaches. The museum is listed as autism friendly in the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities' Autism Friendly Business Directory.

THREE TO SEE: The I Dream in Lego exhibit lets kids build on the Lego Wall using their imagination. Build It: Kids and adults can tinker with building materials at tables in the museum. Live On Air: Kids get the thrilling experience of seeing themselves on television.

Dozens of galleries and artist studios, as well as world-class performance venues add to the vibrance of St. Pete/Clearwater’s art scene. The monthly Second Saturday Artwalk in St. Pete is the area’s largest and the ideal way to visit numerous galleries and award-wining artists in their studios. View works of public art with a monthly tour guided by the Clearwater Arts Alliance.

See works by local artists in special exhibitions as well as antiques including blue-chip works on the secondary art market at The Werk Gallery and Object Lab in the Grand Central District. Paintings, sculptures, and photography are on the roster at ARTicles Art Gallery in St. Pete’s Uptown Arts District. Find more contemporary works right next door at D-Gallerie. In the Warehouse Arts District, The Factory St. Pete is an arts compound that’s home to artist studios and a rotating featured gallery, Fairgrounds St. Pete; Heiress, a contemporary gallery and arts advisory; Wild Space, the Florida Wildlife Corridor's gallery; and the Drew Marc Gallery. In Gulfport, fine craft and fine art are on display at the Brenda McMahon Gallery. Glass art, paintings, and jewelry shine at Syd Entel Galleries and Susan Benjamin Glass in Safety Harbor. Creative Pinellas offers exhibitions showcasing the arts at its gallery in Largo.

Handcrafted works in metal, glass, clay, fiber, and jewelry are found in several galleries in St. Pete, at Florida CraftArt and Craftsman House on Central Avenue, and Shapiro’s Gallery and Red Cloud Indian Arts on Beach Drive.

The Morean Arts Center in St. Pete, the Dunedin Fine Art Center, and the Safety Harbor Art and Music Center offer classes and showcase exhibitions. Hundreds of artists call St. Pete/Clearwater home and open their studios to the public. In St. Pete’s Warehouse Arts District, visit studios at the ArtsXChange. The artists at downtown ArtLofts open to the public every month, as do the artists in the Pinellas Arts Village in Pinellas Park. Bi-monthly art walks happen in Gulfport's Historic Waterfront Arts District.

The amount of glass art found in St. Pete/ Clearwater has earned it the nickname “the glass coast.” In St. Pete, see glassblowing demonstrations, amazing works in glass, and try your hand with classes at the Duncan McClellan Gallery, Zen Glass, and the Morean Glass Studio and Hot Shop. Imagine Museum and the Chihuly Collection showcase contemporary glass in St. Pete. In downtown Clearwater, see the stunning creations of Marlene Rose at her eponymous gallery.

In St. Pete, view works in functional and sculptural ceramics, visit artists in their studios and give the wheel a spin at the Morean Center for Clay, the Clay Center of St. Petersburg and The Clay Co-op.

St. Pete/Clearwater has a wealth of performing arts experiences, from Broadway to live music. Take in a concert from The Florida Orchestra at St. Pete waterfront venue The Mahaffey Theater or Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall, which along with the Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, also presents Broadway, dance and concerts by popular acts and comedians. New waterfront outdoor venue The BayCare Sound at Coachman Park brings national acts and is home to the Clearwater Jazz Holiday. The St. Petersburg Opera Company brings works by all the great composers to The Palladium Theater, the downtown St. Pete venue that also offers jazz concerts, dance performances and more.

Café Gala, The Dalí Museum. Named for Salvador Dalí's wife Gala, the café offers light Spanish-themed fare. Enjoy tapas, pastries, soups, salads, and sandwiches, coffee and espresso, and beer and wine. Guests can dine inside in the museum’s lobby or outside on the scenic Avant-Garden patio.

Café Clementine, The Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. The locally owned artisanal bakery and eatery serves dishes and pastries inspired by the seasons, made with many organic and locally sourced ingredients. Dishes include sandwiches, soups and salads, and coffee, cold brew, and organic teas are served. Eat inside or outside overlooking Tampa Bay, or take a picnic prepared by the café to one of the surrounding parks.

The Canyon Café, The James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art. Anchored by a historical wooden bar, the café offers Southwestern fare like nachos and tacos or salads, soups, and handhelds. A full espresso bar serves specialty drinks and cold brews, while a daily happy hour includes $5 beer and wine options.

Arts Café, Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement. Take in the majesty of the museum’s grand atrium while enjoying hearty sandwiches, burgers, flatbreads, and soups. Baked goods run the gamut from sweet to savory. Cocktails are a unique addition to the robust beer and wine offerings.

Perry’s Porch, The St. Petersburg Museum of History. Coming soon, the café is named for early St. Petersburg developer Perry Snell, who envisioned the waterfront full of parks. The menu will focus on fresh and local flavors and historical local craft cocktails. A picnic basket will be available for guests to nosh on while enjoying the St. Pete Pier.

St. Pete/Clearwater boasts a diverse arts scene that stands out as one of the most eclectic in Florida. St. Pete's 11 museums, 165-plus captivating street murals, numerous art galleries, professional symphony orchestra and opera company, professional and community theaters, and multiple performing arts venues, combined with a plethora of experiences spanning glassblowing, clay throwing and literary festivals has created an arts scene that caters to all artistic sensibilities for both residents and visitors.

What do you think would surprise visitors about the St. Pete arts scene? Visitors to St. Pete are often surprised by the seamless integration of art into our neighborhoods. While many are familiar with the world-class museums and SHINE murals downtown, what surprises them is the artistry woven throughout the city's various neighborhoods and communities. St. Pete showcases a dynamic and global artistic influence that extends throughout the entire city.

What aspect of the local arts scene stands out most? The standout feature of St. Pete's local arts scene is its ability to provide comprehensive artistic experiences for both residents and visitors. Whether you're immersing yourself in the symphony, delving into modern art, marveling at intricate glass sculptures at one of our six glass art experiences, tapping your feet to the rhythm of jazz at our award-winning Pier, or enjoying a Shakespeare play in the park – St. Pete truly has it all!

Dozens of galleries and artist studios, as well as world‑class performance venues, add to the vibrance of St Pete/Clearwater’s art scene The monthly Second Saturday Artwalk in St Pete is the area’s largest and the ideal way to visit a multitude of galleries and visit award‑winning artists in their studios View works of public art with a monthly tour guided by the Clearwater Arts Alliance Bimonthly artwalks happen in Gulfport's Historic Waterfront Arts District.

St Pete/Clearwater’s beautiful weather is the perfect backdrop for outdoor art festivals For more info, go to VisitSPC.com/Events.

ST. PETERSBURG FINE ART FESTIVAL
ST PETE, STRAUB PARK, LATE WINTER
Showcases works in paintings, photography, sculpture and more.

TARPON SPRINGS FINE ARTS
FESTIVAL ON THE BAYOU
TARPON SPRINGS, SPRING
One of Florida’s largest art festivals features award-winning artists.

BLOOM N CHALKFEST
SAFETY HARBOR, SPRING
The sidewalks come to life with artists’ colorful creations.

MAINSAIL ART FESTIVAL
ST PETE, SPRING
For more than 47 years, award-winning fine art and fine craft artists show along the waterfront.

ART HARVEST
DUNEDIN, FALL
Features hundreds of artists in multiple mediums and a Children’s Pavilion.

CRAFT ART FESTIVAL
ST PETE, FALL
Focuses on fine craft artists and artist demonstrations.

Murals

Since 2015, the annual SHINE Mural Festival has ushered in hundreds of vibrant murals to St. Pete every October by locals and renowned street artists alike. Take a tour of them organized by the festival and led by arts experts on the open-air Star Trolley that begins and ends at Bayboro Brewing Company. Download the Pixel Stix app to get the stories behind the murals for a self-guided tour by car, foot or bike, or take a tour led by a guide from Florida CraftArt.

Gulf To Bay St. Pete Clearwater FL - Gulf To Bay 2024

Arts

Murals

Issue List

Gulf to Bay 2026

Gulf to Bay 2025

Gulf To Bay 2024

Gulf To Bay 2023

Gulf To Bay St. Pete Clearwater FL 2022