Gulf To Bay St. Pete Clearwater FL

St. Pete-Clearwater’s vibrant art scene provides a myriad of ways to get your arts fix, with world-class museums, dazzling glass art, hundreds of eyepopping street murals and thriving performing arts. In 2022, Condé Nast Traveler named St. Pete one of the top small U.S. cities with “big-time art scenes.”

Q&A WITH ARTIST YA LA'FORD

Artist Ya La’ford’s murals and geometric designs are found throughout St. Pete, on walls and in museums and galleries.

What makes St. Pete-Clearwater’s art scene exceptional? St. Pete-Clearwater’s art scene features a mix of contemporary art, street art and public installations, along with a strong focus on high art experiences. The local artist community thrives on collaboration and innovation, and public art projects turn everyday spaces into vibrant showcases. Regular events like art walks and festivals celebrate local talent.

You have murals throughout St. Pete, along with works of public art and recently opened a solo museum show in the city. As a professional artist, how does it feel to be supported by the community and what does that say about the area’s commitment to the arts? Seeing my murals and public art resonate with people and enhance the city’s vibrant atmosphere is truly rewarding. The recent solo James Museum show reflects the area’s strong commitment to the arts, showcasing a desire to uplift local artists. This support fosters a sense of belonging and encourages artistic exploration, highlighting the community’s appreciation for art as an essential part of its identity.

What aspect of St. Pete-Clearwater’s art scene do you think would surprise first-time visitors? The juxtaposition of vibrant art installations with the serene beach landscape creates a unique atmosphere, allowing visitors to appreciate the connection between art and nature. This blend of creativity and coastal charm is something that truly sets the St. Pete-Clearwater art scene apart.

Museums

St. Pete-Clearwater’s museums offer a variety of sensational experiences, from a celebration of surrealism to an exploration of the American West to exhibits geared toward kids. Many of them are clustered in downtown St. Pete amid hotels, shops and restaurants.

Visitors from across the globe flock to this museum dedicated to Spanish surrealist Salvador Dalí. Boasting over 2,400 artworks and artifacts, its permanent collection is one of the most comprehensive in the world. For an enhanced experience, download the Dalí app on your phone to take tours of special exhibitions and, through the magic of augmented reality, reveal facts about masterworks paintings. The building itself is a work of art; a double-helix staircase in the center of the museum was inspired by Dalí’s fascination with DNA, and a large glass geodesic bubble made of 1,062 triangular pieces of glass known as the “Enigma” erupts from the outside.

THREE TO SEE: “Dalí Alive 360°” is an immersive digital experience celebrating the artist’s life in the Dalí Dome, a newer addition to the museum’s grounds. Get a personal experience with the artist via two artificial intelligence exhibits, “Dalí Lives” and “Ask Dalí.” The interactive “Dream Tapestry” exhibit lets users transform their dreams and ideas into images via the museum’s artificial intelligence program, DALL•E.

Perched on the downtown waterfront adjacent to the bustling St. Pete Pier, the museum boasts the only encyclopedic collection of works in Florida, spanning 5,000 years and including a robust photography selection. Rotating exhibitions also incorporate different eras and interests, from the ancient world to the ultra-contemporary.

THREE TO SEE: In the permanent collection, look for Old Masters paintings from the 1600-1700s from the Grasset Collection; don’t miss contemporary artist Kehinde Wiley’s “Leviathan Zodiac (The World Stage: Israel)” (2011), and Georgia O’Keeffe’s iconic painting, “Poppy” (1927).

With its stunning imported sandstone façade, the museum brings the imagery of the American West to Central Avenue and is just blocks from the waterfront. The museum features a vast private collection of bronze sculptures and paintings of cowboys, Native American life, landscapes and animals, and contemporary art created by living Western and Native American artists. Special exhibitions highlight local and national artists and reveal historical aspects of Native American life and culture.

THREE TO SEE: The Jewel Box is an intimate gallery at the heart of the museum showcasing brilliant Native-made jewelry. Seek out Fritz Scholder’s striking painting, “Cherokee,” and Tlingit artist Preston Singletary’s bronze sculpture, “Family Story Totem,” in the Native Artists Gallery.

Contemporary glass art by American and international artists is on dazzling display at this museum in the buzzy Grand Central District. Its collection boasts thousands of pieces — and counting — and includes works by the founders of the movement as well as emerging and local artists.

THREE TO SEE: The museum goes beyond glass by featuring the artwork of Louis Markoya, a multidisciplinary artist who was a protégé of Salvador Dalí and makes intricate 3D works to marvel at. “Blue Eye of the Pyramid” is a glass sculpture considered to be a masterpiece by contemporary Czech glass artists Jaroslava Brychtova and Stanislav Libensky. Try to find your own eye in Anthony James’ “Portal Icosahedron,” a mind-boggling sculpture made with LED lights and mirrors.

One of only two museums dedicated to the living legend glass artist Dale Chihuly, it’s unique in that the building was designed specifically for his artwork. It’s presented by the Morean Arts Center, and as a bonus, admission includes a glassblowing demonstration at the Morean Glass Studio, located right across Central Avenue.

THREE TO SEE: A 20-foot site-specific installation resembling rock candy greets visitors from the street. The collection includes some of Chihuly’s most popular pieces, including “Ikebana,” a luminous glass garden installation, as well as the spectacular “Ruby Red Icicle Chandelier,” which was created for the collection.

The first museum in the world dedicated to the American Arts and Crafts movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, at 137,000 square feet, this is the largest museum in the city. The five-story downtown museum showcases pottery, furniture, metalwork, lighting and photography from the preeminent private collection of the movement.

THREE TO SEE: The building is an architectural triumph with a modern exterior clad in granite and bronze and an egg-shaped ovoid structure wrapped in Venetian plaster. Look down on the “Aloha Landing,” a 1912 tile floor from Arthur Curtiss James’ boathouse in Newport, Rhode Island. On the top floor, George Nakashima’s “Arlyn” table is a surprising late 20th century addition, included for the artist’s use of handcraft and simplicity.

Formerly named Fairgrounds St. Pete, this 15,000-square-foot space anchors creative compound The Factory St. Pete in the Warehouse Arts District. The art-meets-technology immersive experience features artist-made installations that celebrate all things Florida. Centered around the “Mermaid Star Motel,” the choose-your-own-adventure experience includes cats, aliens and a mystery to solve.

THREE TO SEE: Celebrate Florida’s favorite fruit in the pink- and red-hued, sweet-smelling “Strawberry Room,” created by artists Emiliano Settecasi and Macy Higgins. The oxymoron “jumbo shrimp” comes to life in the “Shrimpfinity” installation centered around a giant sculpture of a shrimp cocktail by artist duo Felici Asteinza and Joey Fillastre. Devon Brady’s “The Bait Ball” is a dizzying kinetic installation inspired by “schools of fish and human mosh pits.”

Located at the entrance of the spectacular Pier District, this museum that is over 100 years old delivers interesting facts about the Sunshine City, including its pioneering role in aviation. It also offers special historical exhibits that go beyond the ’Burg.

THREE TO SEE: See the world’s first airliner and learn about the birth of commercial aviation in the Flight One Gallery, located mere steps away from where the first commercial flight happened in 1914. Discover the women who boldly worked for the city’s development in “Meddling: The Women Who Built St. Pete.” Take the rare opportunity to see an ancient Egyptian mummy and sarcophagus in “Pathway to Eternity: Life, Death, and Afterlife.”

This museum is part of St. Petersburg College and is located on its Tarpon Springs campus. The modern and contemporary museum’s collection is primarily built on the works of 20th-century artists Abraham Rattner, Allen Leepa and Esther Gentle and includes prints and works on paper by their contemporaries, like Marc Chagall and Fernand Léger. The museum hosts a robust exhibition schedule that includes an annual faculty show. Viewers can also see collections and special exhibitions online for free.

THREE TO SEE: A mural reproduction of Pablo Picasso’s “Guernica” (1937) is the only authorized full-scale reproduction in the world. The museum also holds the collection from the Gulf Coast Museum of Art, which closed in 2009, and includes works by notable Florida artists like Clyde Butcher. The museum also owns a collection of works by the 19th-century American landscape painter Winslow Homer.

Named for Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the scholar who initiated Black History Month, the museum seeks to preserve and present African American history. Located in the Black-owned business hub called the Deuces Live District, it displays historical exhibits and has a scholarship program for youth. Contemporary African American and Black artists are showcased in special rotating exhibitions.

THREE TO SEE: Visit the “Black History Matters” mural painted by local artists on the street in front of the museum. Commune with nature in the Legacy Garden on the museum’s picture-perfect grounds. The museum is also the starting point for the African American Heritage Trail, a walking tour of the neighborhood’s history told through placards.

This museum that honors the millions of men, women and children who died or suffered in the Holocaust is one of the largest in the world. It tells the stories of victims and survivors through artwork and educational and traveling exhibits, with a mission to prevent future genocide. The museum recently underwent a renovation and expansion.

THREE TO SEE: One of the few remaining railroad boxcars the Nazis used to transport Jews and other victims to concentration camps is on display. With the museum’s recent expansion came two new permanent installations: the personal collection of writer and professor Elie Wiesel, including his writings and his Nobel Prize, and the recently acquired rescue boat, “Thor,” which saved Denmark’s Jewish population during the Holocaust. Please visit thefhm.org for details on reopening.

Kids get hands-on while learning at this museum, which is just a short car ride from downtown and the beaches. It's in the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities’ Autism-Friendly Directory and located on the grounds of Sunken Gardens, one of the oldest roadside attractions in the country. The botanical paradise is home to more than 50,000 tropical and subtropical plants set amid pools and waterfalls. Bonus: Sunken Gardens has its own flamboyance of flamingos and other exotic birds.

THREE TO SEE: “Longo’s Cove” is a floor-to-ceiling climbable structure that provides 360-degree views of the museum at the top. Kids can learn about food, household goods, nutrition and shopping in “My First Market,” sponsored by Publix. Nothing says childhood better than the “Treehouse,” a flying ship and cabin set upon two tree trunks, complete with a slide.

Step into the surreal world of Salvador Dalí and soak in the brilliance on St. Pete’s waterfront as you explore an unparalleled collection of works from one of the most celebrated artists of all time. Discover thought-provoking perspectives — iconic melting clocks to innovative digital art features — including “Dalí Alive 360°,” an immersive experience bringing Dalí’s work to life like never before. Plus, enjoy Spanish-inspired tapas at Café Gala while taking in the stunning architecture and more.

Fans and artists are raving about The BayCare Sound, Clearwater’s new waterfront amphitheater. Operating year-round, this award-winning, state-of-the-art venue offers concerts for all!

From antiquities to contemporary art and so much in between, there’s something for everyone to discover at the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. Explore our renowned MFA Collection, spanning centuries and cultures, and experience our special exhibitions showcasing groundbreaking artists and unique perspectives. Enrich your visit with our engaging programs and events, designed to connect you with art in exciting new ways. Visit us in person or connect with us on social media @MFAStPete.

Longstanding St. Pete gallery ARTicles Art Gallery & Custom Framing shows a range of artists working in painting, sculpture, photography and more in its Historic Uptown location. Right next door, D-Gallerie offers contemporary works by locals and well-known national artists. In St. Pete’s Grand Central District, The Werk Gallery & Object Lab shows local artists in rotating exhibitions on one side and sells antiques and secondary market blue-chip works on another.

A variety of experiences awaits at The Factory St. Pete: Group and solo shows by local artists at FloridaRAMA; the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation’s Wild Space Gallery showcases work that addresses the environment in changing exhibitions; the Drew Marc Gallery offers contemporary artwork; and the educational Museum of Motherhood features an “Escape Womb” installation. Gulfport’s Brenda McMahon Gallery shows fine art and fine craft, including McMahon’s ceramics. In Largo, local arts agency Creative Pinellas presents multiple exhibitions year-round in its 10,000-squarefoot gallery with vaulted ceilings. Glass, paintings and jewelry dazzle at Safety Harbor’s Syd Entel Galleries and Susan Benjamin Glass.

Find handmade works in clay, glass, metal, wood and textiles in St. Pete at Craftsman House and Florida CraftArt on Central Avenue and at 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 & Music Center offer classes and feature robust exhibition schedules. Artist studios are clustered throughout St. Pete-Clearwater. In St. Pete’s Warehouse Arts District, visit the ArtsXchange, Sixstar Art Studios, The Factory St. Pete and Five Deuces Galleria, or head downtown to see the artists of ArtLofts. In Dunedin, visit artists at Stirling Art Studios.

With enough representation to earn the nickname the “Glass Coast,” St. Pete-Clearwater is full of options for enthusiasts of the medium. St. Pete’s Duncan McClellan Gallery, Zen Glass Studio & Gallery and the Morean Glass Studio not only showcase stunning pieces, but also offer glassblowing demonstrations and classes. Be inspired by the works on display at the Imagine Museum and the Chihuly Collection in St. Pete and the work of artist Marlene Rose at her eponymous Clearwater gallery.

View functional and sculptural ceramics and give the wheel a spin or learn handbuilding via classes at the Morean Center for Clay, the Clay Center of St. Petersburg, The Clay Co-op and The Hive St. Pete. The Dunedin Fine Art Center also has a full schedule of classes.

From Broadway shows to live music, St. Pete-Clearwater’s performing arts venues are packed with culture. Take in a concert from the Florida Orchestra, performed at St. Pete’s waterfront venue, the Mahaffey Theater, and at Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall. Both venues also offer concerts from popular acts, performances by stand-up comedians and more. Broadway shows are a popular program at Ruth Eckerd Hall; the venue also operates downtown Clearwater’s Bilheimer Capitol Theatre and outdoor waterfront venue The BayCare Sound at Coachman Park, home of the annual Clearwater Jazz Holiday. The St. Petersburg Opera Company performs all the great composers at the Palladium Theater, the downtown St. Pete venue that offers live jazz, cabarets, dance and more. For lovers of live theatre, American Stage in downtown St. Pete presents contemporary and classic plays in an intimate setting.

St. Pete-Clearwater’s galleries, studios and artsy neighborhoods open their doors to the public with monthly art walks and annual studio tours. St. Pete’s Second Saturday ArtWalk spans multiple arts areas, from the downtown waterfront to the Warehouse Arts District. The Pinellas Arts Village in Pinellas Park hosts a Block pARTy every first Saturday from 5-9 p.m. View works of public art via the Clearwater Arts Alliance’s monthly downtown self-guided tour. See what Gulfport artists are creating via two monthly art walks and the annual Art Jones Studio Tour and Art in the Yard. The Artist Enclave of Historic Kenwood’s Tour of the Arts showcases the creativity of local artists with the classic architecture of the downtown-adjacent St. Pete neighborhood. Dunedin’s Studio Waltz happens twice a year.

St. Petersburg Fine Art Festival • St. Pete, South Straub Park, Late Winter • View works in painting, photography, sculpture and more while taking in waterfront vistas.

Tarpon Springs Fine Arts Festival on the Bayou • Tarpon Springs, Craig Park, Spring • Now in its 50th year, the juried festival is one of the largest in Florida.

Bloom N Chalk Fest • Safety Harbor, Main Street, Spring • Artists bring the sidewalks to life with colorful creations of trompe l’oeil.

Mainsail Art Festival • St. Pete, Vinoy Park, Spring • Hundreds of artists bring their work to the downtown waterfront for this festival that was ranked as one of the 200 Best Fine Art Events in the U.S. by Sunshine Artist Magazine in 2024.

Art Harvest • Dunedin, Highlander Park, Fall • Presented by the Junior League of Clearwater- Dunedin, the juried festival features works of fine art and fine craft.

Arts Café, Museum of the American Arts & Crafts Movement. Dine in the museum’s majestic atrium. Selections include burgers, flatbreads, salads and soups. One of the many sandwiches on the menu, the Muffuletta comes in two sizes, big and massive, and is served on an original Joe Gambino bun. Treat yourself with sweet or savory offerings from the bakery and wash it all down with wine, beer or a cocktail.

Café Gala, The Dalí Museum. The cafe’s Chef Chuck Bandel trained in Spain with master chefs to bring the flavors of the country to the museum. Dine in the lobby or alfresco in the Avant-Garden. Share tapas like the “A Taste of Spain” charcuterie board, enjoy soups like gazpacho or try the Pressed Serranita 1906 sandwich. Leave room for dessert, like the Basque cheesecake. The cafe has a coffee bar and serves beer, Spanish wines, Jarritos sodas and kombucha.

Café Clementine, The Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. Visit the local artisanal bakery’s pastry counter in the museum’s conservatory to order seasonally inspired pastries, sandwiches, soups and salads. Drinks include coffee, cold brew and organic tea. Dine indoors or outdoors with views of Tampa Bay or arrange to have your lunch packed to go for a picnic in one of the neighboring parks.

Perry’s Porch, St. Petersburg Museum of History. This new spot was highly anticipated for its desirable location at the entrance to the St. Pete Pier. The vibe is a relaxed, Old Florida place to enjoy coastal eats and cocktails on the wraparound porch.

The Canyon, The James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art. Helmed by Executive Chef Zakari Davila — winner of the Food Network show “Chopped” — the menu is inspired by the flavors of the American West and indigenous recipes. It serves specialty coffees and cocktails, which can be enjoyed at the historical wooden bar.

Since 2015, the SHINE Mural Festival has delivered hundreds of vibrant murals by renowned local, national and international street artists to St. Pete every fall. Take a tour in style on the Star Trolley and get all the facts from local arts experts. Take a guided tour by foot or bike via Florida CraftArt or venture out on a self-guided excursion using the Shine map and downloadable PixelStix app that reveals the murals’ details. Creative Pinellas has several ongoing mural programs throughout the county. You can even take a bike ride along the Pinellas Trail to see the vibrant public art on display.

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Q&A WITH ARTIST YA LA'FORD

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