Gulf To Bay St. Pete Clearwater FL

In 2022, Condé Nast Traveler named St. Pete as one the top U.S. cities with “big-time art scenes.” Rich with prestigious museums, an abundance of galleries and studios, hundreds of colorful murals and a thriving performing arts scene, St. Pete/Clearwater is a cultural mecca.

From ancient art and history to the most cutting-edge technology, St. Pete/Clearwater’s museums offer something for everyone to discover. In St. Pete, eight museums are clustered downtown, while others are a short drive away.

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. Rotating special exhibitions feature giants of art history and an emphasis on surrealism.

The building: A work of art unto itself, featuring a helical 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 Lives (via Artificial Intelligence) brings the talking likeness of the artist to life on screens throughout the museum. The Hallucinogenic Toreador: Among many masterworks, guests can learn about Dalí’s process while viewing the work with the Dalí app, thanks to augmented reality.

Perched on St. Petersburg’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.

Kehinde Wiley’s painting Leviathan Zodiac (The World Stage: Israel), 2011. Portrait of Augustus, First Emperor of Rome, sculpture by unknown artist from the late first century B.C. Georgia O’Keeffe’s painting Poppy, 1927.

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 contem-porary art created by living Western and Native American artists, as well as superstars like Andy Warhol.

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.

Anthony James’ Portal Icosahedron, a mind-boggling sculpture made of glass, titanium, LED lights and mirrors. Martin Blank’s “tour de force” installation, If a River Could Tell a Story, created specifically for the Imagine Museum. Museum benefactor Trish Duggan’s Nirvana (1000 Buddhas), glass Buddha heads displayed together in a dark, 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.

Check out the installations Ruby Red 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.

The building: An architectural marvel, it 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.

CENTCOM, a Twistee Treat-shaped spaceship filled with interactive gaming elements that respond to motion created by the Fairgrounds team, and glitch art. One of the artist-created motel “rooms,” Palehorse’s Temple of Cosmic Balance features murals and infinity mirrors in which you can find your third eye. Flora-Da-Scope, a large kaleido-scope, takes you into a neon universe.

Located on the entrance to the spectacular Pier District, 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-square-foot addition featuring a metal sculpture by artist Ya La’ford.

See the world’s first airliner in the panoramic Flight One Gallery located just steps from where aviation history was made. Baseball fans will delight in Schrader’s Little Cooperstown, the Guinness-certified largest collection of baseballs signed by a staggering number of athletes and celebrities. Find out how an approximately 3,000-year-old Egyptian mummy made its way to the city in the museum’s Odditorium.

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 sizable collection containing works by 20 th 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.

Pablo Picasso’s Guernica (1937) mural reproduction is the only authorized full-scale reproduction known in the world. The sculpture Watchdog by Mary Engle depicts her favorite studio companion covered in found watch parts. Abraham Rattner’s Studio: Two permanent collection galleries are dedicated to the museum’s namesake and include extensive archives from his time spent in Paris and New York throughout the 1920s-1970s.

The museum named for 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.

Visit the historical Black Lives Matter mural painted by local artists on the street in front of the museum. African American Heritage Trails: 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. Petersburg. Legacy Garden: The picture-perfect grounds area is a must-see.

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 museum tells the stories of victims and survivors through educational and art exhibits, with a mission to prevent future genocide.

The museum has one of the few remaining railroad box cars the Nazis used to transport Jews and other prisoners to concentration camps. History, Heritage and Hope includes original artifacts, videos and photos that present the history of the Holocaust, including the beginnings of antisemitism and life before World War II, followed by the rise of Hitler and the Nazis. Kaddish in Wood showcases the handmade woodcarvings made by Dr. Herbert Savel, depicting Nazi victims, taken from Holocaust-era photographs.

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 (CARD) Autism-Friendly Business Directory. It’s on the grounds of Sunken Gardens, one of the oldest roadside attractions in the country. The lush, botanical paradise features more than 50,000 tropical and subtropical plants, amid pools and waterfalls. It has its own flock of flamingos, as well as other exotic birds.

Kids use their imaginations to build on a Lego wall with I Dream in Lego. Little ones get to see themselves on TV with Live on Air. Longo’s Cove is an interactive exhibition kids can explore and is the museum’s central focus.

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

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.

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 enjoy in one of the surrounding parks.

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 brew, while a daily happy hour includes $5 beer and wine options.

Coming in summer of 2023, the café is named after 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.

ARTS ETC.

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 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.

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 and The Factory St. Pete, a compound that’s also home to Fairgrounds St. Pete. The artists at downtow ArtLofts open to the public every month, as do the artists in the Pinellas Arts Village in Pinellas Park.

The amount of glass art found in St. Pete/Clearwater has earned the area the nickname, “The Glass Coast.” In St. Pete, see glassblowing demonstrations, amazing works in glass and try your own hand with classes at the Duncan McClellan Gallery, Zen Glass Studio 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 functional and sculptural ceramics, visit artists' studios and give the wheel a spin at the Morean Center for Clay, the Clay Center of St. Petersburg and Charlie Parker Pottery.

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.

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. Ruth Eckerd Hall also operates The Sound, the new outdoor waterfront venue at the recently reimagined Coachman Park in downtown Clearwater. 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 and more.

Check out this new interactive tool at ArtsNavigator.com to guide you through the abundant arts offerings in St. Pete/Clearwater.

Q&A WITH CELESTE E. DAVIS

What makes our arts scene exceptional? The arts scene in St. Petersburg is exceptional in its depth and breadth. With over 500 murals, 50 public art studios, 10 museums, five arts districts, two emerging arts districts and a thriving music scene, we are well positioned to be called the “City of the Arts.”

International mural festival: The SHINE St. Petersburg Mural Festival attracts muralists from the local area and beyond. Through the PixelStix app, one can explore 150 SHINE murals on a map and enjoy unique, accessible and descriptive audio clips of these one-of-a-kind pieces of art. It is an ideal connection between the visual arts and technology.

What might surprise you about the arts in St. Pete? The diverse arts offerings that are available in the city is probably most surprising. Theater, all genres of music and dance, and our museums and galleries are all a part of the arts experiences that attract both residents and visitors alike.

What do you enjoy most about the arts in our area? I love that the variety of arts experiences across the city provide me with the opportunity to learn and grow. Artists are storytellers and I can be engaged in the stories of our diverse artists’ communities, from the Latinx to the African American communities to the stories of the LGBTQ community.

THE JAMES MUSEUM OF WESTERN & WILDLIFE ART

Celebrate the museum’s 5th Anniversary and journey into the wide world of western art! Located in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art features works made primarily by living artists. From cowboys to pioneers to Native Americans and wildlife of the world, you’ll immerse yourself in seven galleries of paintings, sculptures, jewelry and objects that tell the often untold stories of the peoples and cultures of the American West.

Bring the whole family to explore and spark the imagination! Docent tours and rotating special exhibitions offer new adventures every time you visit. Private tours are available, with discounts for groups of 10 or more. It’s time to Find Your West!

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 the Gulfport Historical Waterfront Art District.

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

For more than 47 years, award-winning fine art and fine craft artists show along the waterfront.

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 like Shark Toof, 123 Klan and Marina Capdevila. Download the PixelStix app to get the stories behind the murals during a self-guided tour by car, foot or bike, or take a tour led by a guide from Florida CraftArt.

➋ LeoGomezStudio & Miss Crit, GO EASY, St. Pete/Clearwater International Airport

➌ Joshua the Lawyer/MJ Lindo, Alligator and Native American Woman, Clearwater Mural Project

➍ Reginald O'Neal, Tribute to John Henrik Clarke, an African American Historian, SHINE 2022