You can view art by Black artists working in almost every medium in Tampa Bay this spring, from abstract and landscape art to photography and sculpture.
In addition to this, spring 2021 brings us art exploring the color black, art that celebrates diversity and encourages equity, and art that supports Black dreams and Black spaces.
I just hope I get a vaccine soon, so I can get out there and see it all. Click through the links to learn more. Click through each link to learn more.
- Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum The venue is virtually hosting its annual “Bunker Art Auction” to benefit Woodson Warrior Scholarships. The museum sold 17 of Jane Bunker’s lily paintings and raised over $40,000 at the inaugural auction in 2019, and you can big on a fresh crop from the safety of your home.
- Fairgrounds When it officially opens in St. Pete’s Warehouse Arts District this spring, Fairgrounds will feature the work of a diverse group of about 65 artists including Zulu Painter, whose “Mermaid Motel” mural wil live at the Mermaid Star Hotel.
- Ferman Center for the Arts at University of Tampa Downtown’s University of Tampa recently finished construction on its new arts center and is decorating the space with a fresh piece of artwork by UT Alumna Nneka Jones
- HCC Dale Mabry’s Gallery 221 This space has shown work from a different Black artist every February for as long as I can remember. This year, Gallery Director Amanda Poss lent her space to abstract artist Ya La’ford.
- The Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art Tarpon Springs’ Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art celebrates diversity this spring with a collection of portraits by photographers Bonnie Schiffman and Herb Snitzer in “About Face: Celebrating Diversity.”
- Morean Arts Center For “Fresh Squeezed 5,” 2021’s crop of emerging artists includes University of Central Florida grad Zoraye Cyrus. Who explores Blackness, both as a color and an identity, in different forms of charcoal.
- Studio@620 Afro-futuristic storytelling, dancing, a community art show and an Atavistic High Tea are all on the agenda for Black History Month at this downtown St. Petersburg staple.
- Tampa Bay Fresh Fest Eric “Esh” Hornsby’s mural festival brings an artful combination of graffiti and street art to Tampa.
- Tampa Museum of Art Some of the best Florida landscapes were painted by a group of self-taught African American artists known as the Florida Highwaymen, whose work is now on display at the Tampa Museum of Art through March.
- University of South Florida’s Contemporary Art Museum Thanks to monies donated towards understanding Blackness and addressing anti-Black racism, University of South Florida’s Contemporary Art Museum showcases Black artists and photographers in two separate exhibitions this spring, “Griffith J. Davis Photographs and Archives in Context” and “Marking Monuments.”
Support local journalism in these crazy days. Our small but mighty team is working tirelessly to bring you up to the minute news on how Coronavirus is affecting Tampa and surrounding areas. Please consider making a one time or monthly donation to help support our staff. Every little bit helps.
Subscribe to our newsletter and follow @cl_tampabay on Twitter
This article appears in Jan 28 – Feb 3, 2021.