Rhys Meatyard, a celebrated St. Petersburg, Florida artist and muralist, has opened a new solo exhibition titled 'Ceremony' at The Werk Gallery. The show, which runs through the end of April, explores themes of love, grief, and hope, drawing inspiration from author Victor Frankl and the character Aragorn from *The Lord of the Rings*.
From May 3 to June 28, 2026, Art Studio La Marina gallery in Pietrasanta hosts "Anteprima," a solo exhibition by Italian artist Beppe Madaudo (born Palermo, 1950), curated by Diego Ferrante. The show presents works where animals, human figures, and hybrid forms emerge from layered matter, exploring themes of memory, tension, and transformation. Key pieces include a depiction of the fish St. Peter, whose profile is outlined in red while its interior is built from threads, combustions, and fragments, and two horse paintings on contrasting ash gray and burnt red backgrounds that alter the visual weight of the same silhouette.
St. Petersburg multimedia artist Cato Galen is profiled for their wide-ranging creative practice, which includes curating immersive installations, writing music, leading workshops, and creating spaces for reflection at festivals. Galen's recent projects include a virtual gallery for How Bazar's “Memories and Fortunes” exhibition in Tampa and the Decompression Space at the Big Culture and Arts Festival in Gainesville, where QR codes merged physical and digital experiences to improve accessibility. Galen also performs music under the name Creating Cato, produces a zine series called “Guide for Blocked Artists,” and hosts a gathering called “Artist Block.”
Fresh Squeezed 10, the tenth annual exhibition at the Morean Arts Center in St. Petersburg, Florida, is now on display through June 25. The show features eight emerging artists from across the state, each given their own dedicated gallery space, creating a series of mini solo exhibitions. Works range from painting and sculpture to digital art and immersive installations, including Kimberly Vorperian's walk-in 'Tomato Hut.' Artists explore themes of home, identity, family, and nature, with contributors including Alberto Alonso, Ysabel Flores, Angelina Palmisano, Clancy Reihm, Gwen Mehler, Jamie Rodriguez, and Gillian Probert.
Artapolooza 2026, a regional student art exhibition organized by the Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center, took place from April 17 to 22 in Mansfield, Ohio. Over 3,000 student artists from 23 local school districts participated, with Gracie Gallaway of Crestview Senior High School winning Best of Show for her acrylic floral portrait. Other top honors included Kayla Mendez, Anastasia Stimens, and Aria Wright in the High School Division, and Eelyn Crist, Ariel Ramsey, and Olive Richards in the Middle School Division. The revived Rising Star Award was presented to Georgia Gantz of Highland High School, who received professional art supplies to support her artistic development.
L’UE sanctionne Mikhaïl Piotrovski, directeur de l’Ermitage
The European Union has added Mikhail Piotrovsky, the 81-year-old director of the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, to its sanctions list as part of the 20th package of measures against Russia. Brussels accuses him of publicly supporting the war in Ukraine and of conducting archaeological excavations by the museum in occupied Crimea. His assets in the EU are frozen and he is banned from entering European territory.
Creative Pinellas has unveiled Sightline, a new art gallery inside St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport (PIE), featuring a debut exhibition titled "Made in the Shade." The show highlights works by three St. Petersburg-based artists: Elizabeth Barenis (abstract paintings), Matthew Drennan Wicks (sculpture), and Babette Herschberger (ceramics). Located post-security near Gates 7–11, the gallery offers travelers a free, immersive art experience. Additionally, the airport opened Liquid Provisions, a bar and eatery by SSP America serving craft cocktails and locally inspired food, aiming to bring a taste of Pinellas County to the terminal.
The Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg is hosting a talk titled "In the Presence of the Spirits: Art and Culture in New Guinea" on February 27, 2025. MFA Research Associate Noah Cox will lead the discussion, focusing on the exhibition "Explore the Vaults: The Art of New Guinea" and placing the works displayed in the Miriam Acheson Gallery within the broader history of art from New Guinea, an island known for its rich artistic traditions rooted in ritual, myth, and communal history.
Florida CraftArt in downtown St. Petersburg has opened 'Florida NOW,' a new exhibition showcasing contemporary craft from across the state. Curated by artist and ceramics educator Holly Hanessian, the show features works in sculptural ceramics, glass, fiber, metal, and wood that blend traditional techniques with current perspectives. The opening reception is scheduled for May 9, and the exhibition runs through June 13.
The international juried art exhibition "Embracing Our Differences" is concluding its current run in St. Petersburg’s Poynter Park this weekend. The outdoor showcase features 50 billboard-sized artworks created by artists and students globally, each paired with an inspirational quote centered on themes of inclusion, kindness, and respect. The event, which attracted over 400,000 visitors last year, also maintains a concurrent presence in Sarasota’s Bayfront Park through mid-April.
Faculty members from the Pinellas County Center for the Arts (PCCA) and St. Petersburg artist Wasíl are preparing to open new exhibitions at Werk Gallery. The shows will feature a range of visual works, highlighting the creative output of both established and emerging artists from the local Tampa Bay area.
Embracing Our Differences, a nonprofit organization, is now accepting submissions for its 2026 international outdoor exhibitions in Sarasota and St. Petersburg. The juried exhibition features 50 billboard-sized artworks paired with quotations, with categories for visual art and original quotes. Submissions are free and open to all ages and backgrounds, with a deadline of July 1. Winners receive cash prizes, including Best-in-Show and People's Choice awards, and student winners share $2,000 with their school's art or language arts program.