Willie Cole (American, b. 1955). "Sunflower," 1994. Scorched canvas and lacquer on padded wood; H. 80 x W. 78 in. Tampa Museum of Art, Museum purchase, 2004.012 Credit: Willie Cole

Willie Cole (American, b. 1955). “Sunflower,” 1994. Scorched canvas and lacquer on padded wood; H. 80 x W. 78 in. Tampa Museum of Art, Museum purchase, 2004.012 Credit: Willie Cole
Since the dawn of time — literally — nature has served as a muse for artists. In many instances, the shape of a vase offers an outlet for the artist to let his or her muse live (ever wonder why you see so many flowers and birds on vases? Welp, now you know). The way artists use vases, bird and flowers to honor their muse varies, and the Tampa Museum of Art has quite a few examples in its permanent collection. Inspired by Nature: Vases, Birds , & Flowers includes two- and three-dimensional works that offer proof of this. The show includes Sensuous Triptych (2000), a 2000 work from recently-deceased Betty Woodman, a ceramic artist who was the first living female artist to have a retrospective at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (2006). We're thinking that alone makes it worth a visit. 

Inspired by Nature: Vases, Birds , & Flowers | Tampa Museum of Art, 120 W. Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa | $15; free for members | Through July 22 | 813-274-8130 | More info about museum hours here

This article appears in Jun 21-28, 2018.

Cathy's portfolio includes pieces for Visit Florida, USA Today and regional and local press. In 2016, UPF published Backroads of Paradise, her travel narrative about retracing the WPA-era Florida driving...