Artists, we invite you to add your listing to our Artist Registry. A listing in the registry is a benefit of Arts Council membership. If you are not already a member, click here.
We are a group of women combining our unique talents to produce large murals, one of a kind paintings, and fun Keys signs.
Alicia Zemanek is an International Award-winning expressionism oil painter specialising in Sealife, Tropical and Wildlife with Collectors based in Europe and North America. Her art has been featured internationally in France, Italy, Spain, Luxembourg, Canada and the States. Similar to Delacroix & Matisse, color, pattern & light are a constant inspiration to Zemanek. Her work is deeply influenced by the flora and fauna of her two homes: the beautiful Florida Keys & the mountains of the Eastern Townships of Quebec. Born in the UK, she lived 40 years in Montreal and 18 years in Luxembourg before returning to North America. Zemanek artistic signature is in the richness of the colors which is obtained by mixing traditional Old Masters with modern palette knife techniques. The darks are intensified and luminous through several layers of glaze while the palette knife provides the strong highlights, brilliance, structure and strong color contrast.Her colorful works can be seen at Saatchi Art (USA), Art Majeur (Paris) & SeaSister Island Gallery in Key West.
Allison Newsome is a talented public sculptor/innovator working in sculpture, stainless steel, brushed and powder coat aluminum, bronze and architectural terracotta faience. the RainKeep, rain harvesting sculpture, can be found all over the country. In 2021, Allison collaborated with Miami-based re-a.d Architecture and Design creating RainKeep 'SoHo' in SoHo, NYC, and 'Botanica' in Largo, Florida. Each RainKeep has its own name, derived from the story of its purpose, the science behind its meaning, or the materials used. Placed in public spaces such as Pocket Parks, Community Gardens, and town squares. These standalone sculptures are a bright beacon that creates a space for the public to gather. The sculptures feature large horizontal petals/ wings that are contrasted by vertical columns of kinetic handcrafted rain- chains that all work in unison to direct rain into above-ground beautifully designed volumetric vessel shapes.
Annamarie Giordano is a multi-medium artist whose works can be found in collections worldwide. A graduate of The Pennsylvania Academy Of the Fine Arts. A life Drawing Facilitator/Instructor. She taught at Cape May County Art Leauge, TSKW, FKCC, San Carlos Institute, and Currently at KWAHS.
☑ Pre-qualified Monroe County Public Artist
I am an oil painter based in the Florida Keys. My work is designed to explore this little part of the world through my lens with the hope that it inspires you to do the same.
Solitario, who refers to himself as a “classic realist”, explores various subjects, including landscapes, portraits and still life paintings. As a landscape painter, Solitario says he is most inspired by cumulonimbus clouds, the Gulf Coast and the Mississippi River. He emphasizes the magnitude of the sky and clouds above small slivers of land below. Billy Solitario’s still life works honor the rainbow of colors found in the crabs, oysters, and crawfish native to the Gulf Coast. Billy paints with a “wet on wet” technique and uses value to bring his signature depth to the pieces.
From a very young age, I was always interested in photography. I graduated from the NY Institute of Photography in 1968. Many of my photos have been shown in venues throughout New York and Key West, Florida. My photography is eclectic, but I love shooting birds[sic], landscapes. My work is available at Guild Hall Gallery on Duval Street, Key West.
Retired NJ art educator, past gallery owner, acrylic landscape painter.
Canadian born (Calgary, Alberta, 1959, American citizenship since 1995) international artist Christian Eckart, formerly based in New York (1984-2003), settled in Houston, Texas at the beginning of 2003. During the 20 years he lived in NYC and up to the present Eckart’s work has been the subject of over 60 solo exhibitions, including many museum surveys, and has been included in over 150 group exhibitions. His work is represented in many important private and public permanent collections including those of The Guggenheim Museum, N.Y., The Museum of Modern Art, N.Y., Museum ModernerKunst, Vienna, The Chicago Art Institute, The Detroit Institute of Art, the Broad Art Foundation and The Art Gallery of Ontario as well as many others throughout North America, Europe and Asia.
☑ Pre-qualified Monroe County Public Artist
50 year career as a children’s book illustrator who’s work has been published by major children’s book publishers. Currently working on more personal studio work in Key West and Ft. Lauderdale studios. Digital and traditional media.
Color, pattern & light are a constant inspiration to me. I interpret & express what I see; not copy. My style would be called American Impressionism which allows the viewer to participate. Plein air is how I love to paint as it gives me a special relationship with atmosphere, color, light and the environment. Plein air offers the challenge the quick changing light which fascinates me. Capturing the natural beauty of nature in the changing light is a fun and rewarding challenge. It is a joy to capture scenes and nature with a sense of spontaneity. Over 90% of my work is plein air. Most recent awards/achievements: Invited artist to Wekiva Invitational Paint Out 2017. Award of Merit Light and Space Gallery Show “Seascapes”
Connecting community, exploring culture and constructing guideposts of life with art. Weaving a story with the goal of warming the creative soul, and bringing happiness to the heart are just a few of the objectives of my designs. I use rugged materials incorporating recognizable symbols embracing aspects of a locality to bridge generations of peoples from diverse backgrounds.
☑ Pre-qualified Monroe County Public Artist
Abstract shapes in bold, bright colors and cartoonish characters dominate my work. My work is rarely sketched out in advance beyond a doodle of the facial expressions of the characters. I start with a selection of a limited palette of colors and an idea for main characters in conflict as a focal point, the rest evolves as I paint. In many pieces the negative space is as important as the painted areas with the unpainted areas forming stand alone characters and designs. My major influences are pop art, vintage cartoons and street art of the 1980s by artists like Keith Haring.
David has been doing stained glass design and artwork since 1998. He primarily uses the copper-foil method developed by Louis Tiffany in the late 1800's. His work can be found in homes, businesses, and churches around the world. Projects have ranged from small sun catchers to large church installations. Subject matter includes everything your imagination can envision.
☑ Pre-qualified Monroe County Public Artist
Key West and Caribbean themed artist. Colorful funky fine fun. Acrylics, custom made bars with cedar wood and art inlaid. 1981 Art Institute of Atlanta Honor Graduate.
Nature is my parter in design. I print directly from natural subjects, pulling my impressions from leaves, ferns, fish, flowers and natural subjects. I preserve my impressions, called nature prints, on silk screens and use them to create my compositions, both in my mixed media prints on paper and in my textile designs. By adding drawings to my work on paper I create unique contemporary botanical prints and nature studies. As a long time Key West artist, much of my work is inspired by the flora and fauna of the Keys as well as from travels to beautiful places on the planet. My love for the world around me fuels my passion as a naturalist and inspires my work as an artist.
EDUCATION 1998 M.F.A. San Jose State University, San Jose, CA 1982 M.A. Fine Arts, California State University, Chico, CA 1977 B.A. Fine Arts, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA TEACHING 2000-2001 California State University, Chico, CA 1988-2000 Butte Community College, Fine Arts Dept. PUBLIC ART COMMISSIONS 2020 West Elementary Scool Washington DC Dept of General Services 2015 Women’s Cancer Center Bldg Sutter Hospital Sacramento, CA Art Consulting Services 2013 Eskaton Village, Roseville, CA Art Consulting Services 2010 Fairfield Plaza, Fairfield, CA
☑ Pre-qualified Monroe County Public Artist
Originally from North Carolina, I fell in love with Key West in the mid-80's and moved there in 2000. My colorful works including oils, acrylics and watercolors can be seen at 7 Artists and Friends and Stone Soup Gallery in Key West. Commissions welcome.
Combining her interest in painting with polymer clay, Denise creates polymer paintings. These dimensional creations range from architecture to landscapes.
I’ve been creating art since I was just a child. I always knew that I wanted to be an artist but it wasn’t until my college years at Kendall College of Art and Design that I began to understand that I wanted to bring something fresh to the world of art. The environment and our waterways are such an important and critical part of our world. A lake or ocean without fish has very little interest to humans. To preserve these habitats for generations to come and to enjoy fishing the way my great grandfather did, is an incredibly important mission and one which my artwork can help to achieve. My approach to pubic art is to bring people’s love and interest to these beautiful creatures and help them understand that they are an important part of their world, one which they would fight to protect.
☑ Pre-qualified Monroe County Public Artist
I'm a professional artist working the national art circuit. A large amount of my work is commission, several of which are large pieces. Most of my work can also be cast for outside sculptures. Using predominantly Russian hardwoods, I carve ribbon like sculptures that optically appear to be bent or folded. Each piece juxtaposes the fluidity of the subject matter against the grain of the wood. The complexity of the underlying engineering and design is concealed by the drama of the piece.
Born and grow in Sofia, Bulgaria. Began drawing and painting in a very early age, and also taking parts in exhibitions. Graduated from The School of Visual Arts of Sofia, and National Academy of Arts, majoring in Painting. M.F A. Studied Graphic Technics in Bern, Switzerland. Over 20 years careers as a Set Designer for BNTelevision. Works in collections in galleries and private individuals in Switzerland, Spain, Germany, UK, Poland, Netherlands, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey. Resident of the Florida Keys.
I create my artwork skillfully and meticulously using very high quality tools and material. Each piece is an original and inspired by my own spiritual growth which is why I have named each piece with a spiritual emphasis. The design in the grinds is where my passion manifests, I love experimenting with the different layers and directions each piece takes. Then as I step back and I see this holographic illusion moving before my eyes as I change positions while viewing it. Adding color to each piece changes the dimension and depth and allows the owner to customize their very own color palette to match their personal taste, or I can just go crazy with my own colorful ideas. Then to play with lighting is a whole other magnitude, watching the light dance upon each grind or changing the colors gradually to watch the piece come alive, so much fun! The artwork is ideal for both indoor and outdoor settings and the natural light changing throughout the day adds a unique quality like no other.
☑ Pre-qualified Monroe County Public Artist
Erika Heffernan was born in Maine and currently lives in Key West, FL. She received her BA at University of Central Florida, earned her Post Bac from School of the Museum Fine Arts Boston and her MFA from the Rochester Institute of Technology. Her work explores the conceptual side of learning and new understandings of perceived norms as someone who identifies with having a disability. Former Chair of the Coalition for (Dis)Ability for ACPA—College Student Educators International she advocates on a national level on how to be inclusive of people that identify as having a disability. An international shown artist as a Special Selection Finalist of the 2012 Videoholica Festival Bulgaria. As a DeCordova Museum Lending Artist her work has been exhibited widely throughout the Boston area in addi
☑ Pre-qualified Monroe County Public Artist
Fran Decker's colorful acrylic paintings capture the flavor of the Florida Keys. Find Fran’s Art at The Key West Art Center and Guild Hall.
☑ Pre-qualified Monroe County Public Artist
Geoffrey C. Smith (b 1961) is an American wildlife sculptor. His best-known work is that of the Stuart Sailfish, an 18-foot monument situated in downtown Stuart that serves as the iconic symbol of the city. His upbringing on the northern California coast instilled a love of the natural world and a talent for patient observation of wildlife in its habitat. After moving to Florida in 1996 he spends most his spare time amongst the abundant wildlife that inspires so many of his works. In addition to having two Signature Galleries, Smith is represented by fine art galleries throughout the United States.
Gerry Stecca is a Miami based artist whose mixed media works include paintings and murals, sculptures and installations, etc. Stecca mostly seeks inspiration from nature frequently visiting the upper keys. Recent projects aside from his sculptures being shown at the Frost Art Museum this summer, include mural work for a new condo in Wynwood, mural restoration at the Ft. Lauderdale Museum of Art, adjunct art professor at Miami Dade College, yearly United Way murals, etc.
Gregory Dirr is a visual artist in Boca Raton. During high school, after studying classical and contemporary art movements, he created his first body of work. Even more, before graduating high school, he was awarded The Silver Key for Portfolio by The National Scholastic Art and Writing Award Alliance. He received his bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from Ringling College of Art and Design in 2008. Gregory’s bodies of work are centered on utilizing recycled and found materials in his environment along with archival material to create fine art pieces. His artwork implements disciplines of printmaking, music, painting, sculpture, animation, and drawing. Aside from creating his own works, Gregory is in constant collaboration with the collective Thought Coalition.
We are a true Native Conch Family mother & daughter business. Our family migrated to The Florida Keys in 1880's from Cuba. Every item we make is made with love & with it's own unique beauty. Our artwork maybe similar, but very different in it's very own unique way. Each item is made or refurbished by hand, from real natural items from the Florida Keys. The way we think is if we wouldn't buy it for ourselves, we wouldn't sell it to our customers. Ever heard the saying "One Mans Trash Is Another Mans Treasure"? Well we try to use items that others may not see as treasure in our pieces. Our goal is to bring awareness to a clean environment especially our waters by recycling old items. By doing this we also save old timeless treasures from getting lost. We always like to keep the environmental impact, in mind.
Humanity Memorial team' artwork is created from love, built to heal. We believe our multidisciplinary team with this commitment to serve community with impactful art inspired by your place and your people.
☑ Pre-qualified Monroe County Public Artist
Born in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Jack has always enjoyed creating stories about interesting people and events. With a good sense of timing to capture that exact moment, as well as a good eye for composition, many of his photos have been featured in both local and national newspapers. Jack currently resides in the Florida Keys with his artist wife, Lynne Fischer. His lens is focused on wildlife, seascapes and landscapes of the tropical surroundings, especially Key West! Be sure to Whether he is quietly and patiently waiting in the mangroves to catch a feeding spoonbill, climbing the winding stairs at the Light House for a terrific panorama of the city, or getting great aerial shots from a helicopter, this is Jack's artistic signature.
☑ Pre-qualified Monroe County Public Artist
I consider my art as a moving target. It's here, then it is there. It's surreal, then impressionistic. Not meant to evoke solely beauty as much as enduring wonder!
☑ Pre-qualified Monroe County Public Artist
I am fortunate that I live on an island suffused with light. I paint en plein air and in my studio. My medium is oil on canvas which portrays the light and texture of our wonderful tropical colors. Resident roosters, shrimp boats and seabirds are some of my favorite subjects. I am represented by Gingerbread Square Gallery, Key West.
With her style of Island Folk Art, Jane captures the spirit of the native Keys wildlife in all its beauty, with a bit of fun and whimsy thrown in. Her works include mixed media Acrylic painting and Sculptures which may incorporate found bits of natural material such as broken shells, barnacles or bamboo. Jane studied fine art and biology in college and considers herself a forever student of nature. She regularly volunteers with local mangrove and beach cleanups, and loves to sail, paddle, snorkel, hike, star gaze and everything else that is out doors. She donates a portion of each sale to the local environmental community. Thank you Dad for giving me a love of the Keys and helping me see the world through the worlds eye.
Key West Artist Janis Stevens featuring portrait painting, sculpture, fine art and folk art.
Jaynie paints in a contemporary style in acrylic and oils. She enjoys playing with realism and abstraction and black and white vs. color. Her subject matter varies but animals, nature and the environment are what moves her. Jaynie earned a BFA from VCU in Richmond, Va. She received an Ann McKee Art Fund Grant and has also received several awards for her work. Jaynie is a member of FKCA, The Studios of KW and the Lower Keys Artist's Network. Her work can be viewed and purchased at the Artist's in Paradise Gallery in the Winn-Dixie shopping plaza on Big Pine Key.
You'll find me where the sun enters the ocean and dances through the coral, as sea life swims about. The ocean is an amazing place and I love to capture the energy above, below, and at the waterline. Underwater, landscape, and wildlife photography are my specialties. I enjoy capturing the Florida Keys in a different light than most; focused more on sunrises and wildlife rathe than sunsets and bars. Creating fine art pieces from these moments and finding special homes for them. Check out my "Made of Ocean" collection and soon to be released "Horizons" collection. Custom orders also available.
Joanne Sloan creates bright, lively acrylic paintings depicting tropical scenarios in her own imaginative style. She is a recipient of an Anne McKee Foundation Grant and a juried member of Artists in Paradise Gallery on Big Pine Key and the Key West Art Center. Her work is on display at various locations throughout the Keys and her colorful paintings grace homes worldwide.
Working with community stakeholders and collaborating with a diverse population of clients and designers over 27 years, has broadened my view of art in general, allowing me to grow immensely in my own artistic discipline. My hand-blended, detailed grouting allows me to tie multiple glass hues together while feathering color transitions and shading in seamless form. Unlike the growing number of public artists outsourcing the fabrication of their installations, I personally handle all materials and oversee all projects from inception to completion. My indoor and outdoor works continue to stand up to the elements in numerous industrial, commercial, retail, and residential settings, requiring minimal to no maintenance along the way.
Shooting pictures for 30 years, Kathryn honed her film and darkroom skills working as a darkroom apprentice in Virginia. She now shoots only digital and produces both color and black and white images. She continues her quest to create black and white images with the nuance of film. Her signature, “Photographics” series, employes techniques to render her images with a silk-screen like quality with highly saturated color. Subjects from the mundane to the sublime capture her imagination and she continues to cultivate a sense of spaciousness in her photography. The elements of design: harmony, balance and rhythm present themselves to Kathryn almost subconsciously, allowing her to capture a moment that transports the viewer into their own minds, memories and dreams.
Kathy Corey is an award-winning artist and the founder of B Extraordinaire Gallery. Corey always knew she was an artist. Originally from Key West, a descendant of seafarers, adventure seekers, and rapscallions lured by the ocean, her art is inspired by her heritage and love of the sea. Her artwork reflects nature's glory, the vastness and power of the ocean and all things therein. The ever-changing sky with its grandeur of colors, clouds and space takes her breath away. Island life, sun-drenched children, and tropical gardens fill her canvases.
I grew up in Michigan and now live in the Florida Keys. My passion is creating art from nature and wildlife photography. I love to photograph the diversity and beauty found throughout Florida and the surrounding islands. My goal is to show audiences and raise awareness of the beauty, ecology, and nature. With that new awareness, through my work, I hope to educate residents and visitors of the importance of preserving and protecting our natural environment. Biodiversity is critical for all life forms, and by photographing our surroundings, my goal is to use the visual arts, writing, and speaking, to preserve the tropics for generations to come.
☑ Pre-qualified Monroe County Public Artist
I made my first camera in the 8th grade as part of an art project. The rest, as they say, is history.
Larry Thimmesch is a formally trained artist working in watercolor, oil and acrylic painting and also three dimensional sculptures. His approach to public art is to represent the people and places that viewers would also want to experience, by interpreting the beauty and mystic of the local world around us. Public art can create new connections and the sense of belonging, emphasizing the natural and constructed beauty, history and the people who live there. This can be accomplished through many diverse techniques, styles and mediums, representing the myriad of personal interpretations that exist, and the diversity in our people and our cultures, but all tied by a common bond of existence.
☑ Pre-qualified Monroe County Public Artist
I moved to Key West from New York City in 1997, lured by the warm weather and vibrant art and music community. I am a self-taught painter, although I’ve studied under other local Key West artists. I have had my artwork and Giclee/Prints in many different galleries and gift shops in the past 14 years, including Key West Artworks, Hemingway House and Blue Heaven gift shops. I have been a member of Island Arts Co-op Gallery for almost 8 years, which is closing at the end of August. I have been commissioned to paint many private homes and a live-in boat. I have exhibited in the Gato Building for many art shows given by the Arts Council which I am a member of for 10 years...I have been part of “From a Woman”s Hand” art exhibit at Sodu Gallery
Lauren Boilini was born and raised in Bloomington, Indiana and currently lives and works in Seattle, WA. She received her B.F.A. in Painting and Art History at the Kansas City Art Institute and her M.F.A. at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). She has been awarded residencies in Spain, Italy, Ireland and across the U.S., including the Studios of Key West. She has served as faculty at a number of schools, most notably at MICA, Towson University, the University of Maryland, Evergreen State College and Cornish College of the Arts. She has completed public art projects for the Maryland Department of Public Health and the Greenville-Spartanburg Airport, along with several temporary public installations and solo exhibitions along the East Coast and Pacific Northwest.
☑ Pre-qualified Monroe County Public Artist
I have done public murals for the government, corporations and private clients around the country. I believe in collaboration, finding what the building or space calls for in terms of theme, reinforcing or enlivening what an architect has in mind.
I am a local artist, and have lived in Key West all of my life; I pride myself in being self-taught, although, at a young age I studied under Key West Artist, the late Paula Todora. My latest work includes Key West as it was long-ago. My greatest joy is realized when someone views my artwork and tells me of their own special memories. What an honor to be a part of someone’ story. My paintings are not just places, people or things; they are memories of a simpler time and places in my heart.
Award winning watercolor and acrylic painter from NY now living in FL. Internationally published and known for her unique free-flowing watercolors. Horses,Dogs, figurative and still life paintings. Please see website for more info.
A formally trained artist with a BFA from Loyola University and a MFA from Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Lothar also studied at the National Academy of the Fine Arts in Vienna, Austria. He specializes in public murals and private studio commissions.
☑ Pre-qualified Monroe County Public Artist
The Florida Keys hold a special place in both locals and visitors hearts. The never ending soft and surreal expanses of blue sky and water and/or the livelier tropical colorful images of people and beach are familiar scenes. My art celebrates these two unlike in kind visual experiences and their associated imagery with paint and canvas.
☑ Pre-qualified Monroe County Public Artist
Artists specializes in landscapes in oil.
Specializing in sewn-&-painted mixed-media house portraits, as well as oval ceramic house platters, house tiles, and painting on silk for pillows, baby quilts, scarves, sarongs, and more.
Since arriving in the Keys in 1984, Ann has relished the opportunity to paint the beautiful flora, landscapes, marine life and creatures here. The Keys sunlight makes her subject matter all the more spectacular with the sharp contrasts and diverse color hues. She also uses her camera to capture special scenes from her various travels around the globe to bring them to life with her brush. She has a BA degree from the University of Cincinnati. She is a signature member of the Florida Watercolor Society as well as an Associate member of American Watercolor Society & National Watercolor Society. She is a Board member of the Florida Keys Watercolor Society serving for over 20 years and currently a Board Member of the FL Keys Council of the Arts.
☑ Pre-qualified Monroe County Public Artist
The artist eye has come easily for Mally Weaver. Attracted to the Florida Keys by the stunning color & strong light, she has always been a colorist, even as a student at Temple University, Tyler School of Art. “Some scenes just demand to be captured.” Her early training was in oils & acrylic painting, drawing, design, print making & sculpture - earning degrees in Fine Art, Art Education & Special Ed. When she learned to sail, she incorporated Plein Air watercolor painting. This allowed her the portability & immediacy to capture those “demanding scenes” while traveling. Since then she has joined the Florida Keys Watercolor Society & was awarded the Best of Show in 2005. Her work can be viewed at the following galleries: The Guild Hall Gallery – 614 Duval St. Key West
Manila grew up in Puerto Rico, lived in Europe 8 years and now resides in St Augustine. She learned the art of etching in Madrid, Spain; for many years she was a print maker. In 2005, Manila began making original stained glass and mixed media mosaics. She has installed her large mosaics in many public buildings, libraries, hospitals, schools and private residences. Manila often calls her work glass collages.
☑ Pre-qualified Monroe County Public Artist
I describe myself as a maker. I draw and paint, make pottery, hook rugs, create furniture and sculpture. I make things. I have been making art quilts for nearly 30 years. I love bright color, and my quilts reflect that love. Color is my muse. I am fortunate that my quilts are part of corporate and private collections and are owned and exhibited by organizations such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, George Washington University Hospital, George Washington University, and the Washington Hospital Center, among others, and are part of many private collections. Four of my quilts have been included in books and have been part of multi-year traveling exhibits. I have exhibited at several national quilt shows and in galleries in the U.S.
I began making art quilts and fiber art in 1989, when my first entry into a fabric challenge was accepted to travel with the Hoffman Challenge exhibit. I have always had a love for vibrant colors, whimsical designs, pets and nature. Living in Key West I am surrounded by ocean and tropical flora and fauna for inspiration. Designing with fabric and fibers in my studio keeps me busy since my retirement. I have taught fabric and fiber art at the Studios of Key West, Williams Hall, the Seam Shoppe, Paradise Quilt Guild and in my home. My unconstrained approach to creating may seem haphazard to many, but it works for me. Immersing myself in piles of fabric strewn across my studio frees me to make art that draws the viewer in for a closer look.
Mary Jean Connors paints in oil on canvas images of the flora and fauna that make our island such a visual paradise. She captures the glowing light and deep shadow that define our subtropical wonderland. She is a member of the boards of the Key West Art Center and Studios of Key West. Her work may be found at the Key West Art Center, on her website or on Facebook.
Michael and Suzanne Lombard reside on Cudjoe Key in the Florida Keys. In the past, the underwater photography was exhibited in Florida outdoor art shows, winning many honors, published in multiple magazines, then a website was created "LombardUWPhoto.com" and in November 2021 a gallery was opened on Cudjoe Key to further showcase our work; "Underwater Photography Gallery". A book has recently been published "Amazing marine life of the Florida Keys". With over 40+ years of underwater photography experience, our passion began in the Southeast Coast of Florida and the Keys, and since photographing marine life all over the globe. We hope to help educate others to appreciate and take care of the delicate precious marine environment.
☑ Pre-qualified Monroe County Public Artist
Over the years, my conception of fine art photography formed, evolved and ultimately coalesced into what I call Subject Essence. This means I seek to reveal the subject’s inner life, if you will. Subject Essence is the one element, in that crucial photographic moment, that reveals the subject’s true inner nature. It dissolves barriers and takes the viewer into the subject’s heart and soul, opened now for all to see. As compared to science, for example, it is like discovering the secret to DNA and then revealing that perfect helix to others who would have not seen it otherwise. Subject Essence reveals the indispensable nature of what has always been there. It is not to tell a story. It is not to reinterpret reality. It is not to use the subject as a means to another end.
☑ Pre-qualified Monroe County Public Artist
Everything has an energy to it. I look for scenes whose vibrance can meld with my own. I then seek to transfer this feel to the canvas. The viewer adds their own spirit for a true resonance. Impressionism is the perfect style to allow this blending and it’s where my art has taken me.
From Vancouver, BC, Michèle studied Interior Design (Douglas College), & Fine Arts (University of Regina, University of British Columbia, Emily Carr & Ottawa Schools of Art). She was Artist-in-Residence (Saskatchewan Arts Board, AFCR, Regina Catholic Schoolboard). For 10 years, she taught DLC 250 & Aquamedia (University of Regina, the Regina School Board, Saskatchewan Board of Education, community colleges/associations & was guest lecturer at UBC. Michele has had numerous exhibitions (solo, group, touring - at international, provincial, regional levels). She’s the founder of Art x 9, a Canadian artists' collective, & CBC/SRC Radio Art Auction "Operation Christmas Card. She's a founding member of the annual Seattle Erotic Art Festival.
Missy Pierce creates multi-media art that explores the nature of identity. She often works between 2-D and 3-D forms to create paintings, mosaics, assemblage and artist books that address themes of belonging and isolation with a particular focus on multicultural issues and the complexities of identity. Pierce is an artist in residence at The Arts Warehouse in Delray Beach, Florida. Her public art may be seen throughout South Florida. She is represented by Rosenbaum Fine Art (RFA Decor) in Boca Raton and by the Arts Warehouse in Delray Beach. Her art has been featured internationally, in Avignon, France, New Zealand, Great Britain, Germany, and Brazil. Pierce also teaches art in Sicily and Lucca, Italy and in Downtown West Palm Beach, Florida.
☑ Pre-qualified Monroe County Public Artist
Nancy Murphree Davis grew up in Alabama and received her BFA from Auburn University. Key West is her twelfth place of residence since she married a military officer. Most recently, she was the 2017 first place winner in the Florida Keys Watercolor Society show, and maintains membership in Potomac Valley Watercolorists and the Florida Watercolor Society. Her works are in the permanent collection of Arlington County, Virginia and in private collections throughout the United States and overseas.
Giving voice to the mysterious strength of the human soul has always guided Natalie Plasencia's vision. It has been a keen interest which inspires her sculptures. Working with the arts, civil rights, children and families has been her passion. Growing up, as a Cuban American in Hialeah she immersed herself in her father's architecture/construction sites, her mother's work with women and children, sewing with her grandmothers, painting for her spiritual advisor, before officially studying sculpture in the university. While studying the fine arts, Plasencia concentrated on exploring the delicate nature of the human soul as the subject matter and sewing, plaster, mold making, wax and metal work as her mediums.
I’ve always created sculptures using different material and techniques. Now I make sculptures out of concrete and ceramic Raku. My sculptures are whimsical pieces that transmit movement and emotion. All of my pieces invite each person to create their own story.
☑ Pre-qualified Monroe County Public Artist
Born in Rhode Island and grew up in Newport until finishing his primary education in California. His creative outlet was through acting, leather-working, constructing wooden boxes, and occasionally building birdhouses. Continued education through a series of Communication and Liberal Arts programs at California State University, Community College of Rhode Island, and The University of Massachusetts. He worked and studied for 15 years as apprentice to couture fashion designer Francesco Di Russo (aka: ches couturier), then 3 years as an apprentice and cutter for a wholesale and retail manufacturer of custom apparel. Since 1985, Peter has been employed in the design industry. He joined art guilds from a desire to be more involved in the creative community.
My pieces invite viewers to contemplate the human body in motion and its universal capacity for self-expression. The stainless steel squares used to sculpt the figures represent the intellectual ability, emotional range, physical strength and spiritual dimension of each individual. The shadows these sculptures cast on the floors or walls of the spaces they inhabit imbue each piece with a secondary layer of beauty, abstraction and mystery. My sculptures have been exhibited worldwide at various art galleries, art fairs, art centers, museums, hotels and even churches. I have also worked closely with curators and public institutions on commissioned work spurred by the belief that public art adds value to spaces and allows me to contribute to cities and institutions.
☑ Pre-qualified Monroe County Public Artist
While attending undergraduate school I began serious work as an artist. After my graduate work on a full scholarship at Cranbrook Academy of Art I received my MFA and leveraged it into a teaching position at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, where I loved teaching and the freedom to do my own work. During my teaching position my work evolved from contemplative objects to interactive spaces and poetic environments. The primary purpose has been to create objects and spaces that humanize our social environments and enrich our community experience. My intention in creating these interactive structures is to allow people the opportunity to become more engaged in their various environments and more mindful of the energies around them finding an artistic expression that respects the community
I was trained by two Abstract Expressionist painters: Clarence Giese, an American Expressionist who taught me during my Junior Year Abroad in Vienna in 1962, and Joachim Loeber, “the last living German Abstract Expressionist,” who was my teacher from 2001 until his death in Key West (in 2014). I see my forbears in the members of the Der Blaue Reiter, the Russian Expressionists (Alexej van Jawlensky and Wassily Kandinsky), the Germans (Franz Marc and August Macke) and the German/Swiss painter, Paul Klee; my work is also influenced by the Frenchman Robert Delaunay and the Viennese Egon Schiele. Although most of these painters died well before I was born, their influence continues in the American school of Abstract Expressionism.
Sally Binard is a mixed-media artist, combining her love of pottery, wood, and oil painting. Her work is deeply influenced by her Haitian and Belgian heritage and often deals with social, historical, and environmental topics.
☑ Pre-qualified Monroe County Public Artist
Sandy West carries a BFA in Commercial Art, which has allowed her to play with an expansive array of mediums. However, her innate style of Illustration glimmers in all of her pieces. She also has a passion for Photography. Her pictures invite you in, and invoke a feeling of calm and connection to everything. Sandy is a long-time resident of the Florida Keys. She's been sharing her love of art with others as an Instructor, at numerous venues in Key West, and through her own works depicting the Keys beautiful tropical surroundings.
Artist creates hand-painted domestic products, specializing in glasses.
I am an artist and graphic designer with nearly four decades of experience providing clients with professional art and design services and unique products. My portfolio includes paintings, etchings, sculpture, and 200+ murals that can be found throughout the United States and in the Eastern Caribbean. I am proud to have provided my artwork for projects at Disney, Dick's Sporting Goods, Radisson Resorts, CocoKey Waterparks, HHGregg, TGIFriday's, among many others. I strive to exceed the expectations of my clients with each new endeavor. Beyond my career as an Art Educator, I also offer private art instruction. I have been an invited instructor for both Florida State University and The Visionary School of Art, and I'm proud to have painted murals alongside Wyland, O'Farrill, and Carey Chen.
☑ Pre-qualified Monroe County Public Artist
Sherry Sweet Tewell has gained national recognition and acclaim for her vibrant paintings, murals, textile designs and illustrations. Inspired by the intense light and mesmerizing colors of her home in Key West, Florida she paints brilliant abstracts using a dynamic palette of rich blues, greens accented by warm yellows and magentas.
☑ Pre-qualified Monroe County Public Artist
We are a multi-disciplinary mixed media artist team that blends classical fine art and urban street art techniques to generate one-of-a-kind sculptures, murals, and art installations.
☑ Pre-qualified Monroe County Public Artist
I am a mixed media artist mostly using acrylic paint and found materials. I moved to Key Largo from Colorado. I have a BFA from Ohio State University.
A mixed media artist with an emphasis in encaustic and assemblages in 2 and 3 dimensions. A long time keys resident, board member of the Florida Keys Council of the Arts and current chair of the Monroe County Art in Public Places board.
Raised in southern New York State, Suzanne Pisano has always been interested in art. She holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in computer science from Iona College where she also studied art. She operates her studio in Big Pine Key, FL where she designs and produces fine jewelry, photographs and other handcrafted items. Suzanne studied silversmithing, lapidary, and glass manipulation under some highly esteemed jewelers and glass artists including Fredricka Kulicke, Lessley Burke, Joy Raskin, Linda Banks, Annemarie Ciuffini, Stephanie Maddalena, and Kurt Patzlaff. Each piece is handmade one at a time with great attention to detail. Custom designed jewelry is available by request. Suzanne’s jewelry work includes fabricated silver, fused and lampworked glass, and enamels.
Photographer in the Florida Keys specializing in real estate photography & drone photography. Licensed & insured. Weddings, family portraits, etc.
Tim Boatright is a Tampa, Florida-based sculptor, painter, ceramicist, designer and public artist who explores a variety of creative pursuits including traditional painting and sculpture, vintage graphics, as well as contemporary styles. His work is in many private, public and corporate collections. Recently Tim had a solo exhibition at the Tampa Bay History Center – a Smithsonian Affiliate Museum. His work is now permanently featured in the museum’s lobby. A recent body of work was created via hand drawn and digital techniques in an illustrative style inspired by historical landmarks, art from the WPA, antique travel posters, cigar art, and fruit crate labels. Tim Boatright’s work in sculpture span from elegant art deco and mid-century styles in metal, glass and stone.
☑ Pre-qualified Monroe County Public Artist
Todd, a software engineer, has seamlessly fused his computer expertise with artistic flair. He harnesses the power of graphic design software and a diode laser to craft distinctive designs across various substrates, transforming his passion into captivating creations.
I grew up 60 miles south of New Orleans in the swamp, drawing, sculpting, and observing everything. I pursued several unsatisfying careers until stage 3 cancer changed my life for the better. Realizing that life is short, determined that I would live my life according to my own plan. I fully committed to my chosen life when i quit my job to build "Boudless," a larger than life Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete Art in Public Places sculpture. That marked many personal firsts for me as an artist, as a woman, and as a person. My sculptures tell stories of real life : a little training her puppy, an old man teaching his grandson, an endangered animal living life free. I am proud and honored when I see faces of people as they experience the emotions of my stories in GFRC concrete.
☑ Pre-qualified Monroe County Public Artist
Valerie Perreault is a published poet, printmaker and coastal artist in the tropical Florida Keys She was a finalist for the New Letters Literary Awards in poetry, received an honorable mention in the May Sarton New Hampshire Poetry Prize, a fellowship recipient of the SLS Unified Literary Contest in Lithuania and Kenya, and a scholarship recipient to the Palm Beach Poetry Festival. Her work has been featured on HBO, PBS Art Loft, Buzzfeed's "20 Perfect Gifts for Book Lovers", Book Riot, Brit.co, Scottish Book Trust, Green Chair Press, and more. Recent writing can be found in Orange Coast Review and Martha's Vineyard Arts and Ideas and in Swamp Ape Review.
Victoria Mata (b. 1983) lives and works in Key West, Florida. Mata received a Bachelor of Arts from Clark University, with Highest Honors in Fine Arts [2005]. As an abstract painter, her work is influenced by the language of landscape with an emphasis on gesture, intimacy, and sense of place. Recent works have expanded to include handmade paper and recontextualized found personal materials, notably bed linens, bones, and tin roof tiles. Selected Solo exhibitions include 'Where You Are' at the Studios of Key West [2018], 'Placeholding' at Grace on Frances [2019], and 'Elegy' at Harrison Gallery [2020], and selected group exhibitions include 'From a Woman’s Hand' at the Key West Art & Historical Society [2020]. Mata received the Anne Mckee Artist Foundation grant in 2019.
☑ Pre-qualified Monroe County Public Artist
I am originally from Brazil and I have been living in Key West, since 1989. Due to my fascination with tools and woodworking, I create assemblages and collages using old and odd objects and also wood or parts from damaged antique furniture pieces. I also create abstract paintings and landscapes. My art pieces reconfiguration and refining process many times ends up showing complete changes from the original concept. This constant evolution is evidence of my desire to always test, stretch and expand my abilities. To me, personal and professional life challenges have always been tools for self-improvement and my search is constant and endless.
☑ Pre-qualified Monroe County Public Artist