The city of St. Petersburg, Florida, is home to many cultural and artistic institutions. I had the opportunity to visit two of them on a recent visit.
St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts
The Museum of Fine Arts was founded in 1961 by Margaret Acheson Stuart. The city donated a four acre, waterfront site, and it opened its doors in 1965. The MFA was the first fine arts museum in St. Petersburg.
Today, the museum has pieces that cover over 5000 years of human endeavor, from all around the world. In my opinion, it is strongest in its collection of 20th and 21st century art. These include some wonderful impressionist and post-impressionist works. These include pieces by Georgia O’Keefe and Kahinde Wiley
When I visited, the museum was hosting two special shows. One was Creative Freedom: Women as Decorative Arts Entrepreneurs 1900-1940. These included some wonderful ceramics created during that period.
The second was In Caravaggio’s Light: Baroque Masterpieces from the Fondazione Roberto Longhi. Caravaggio pioneered the use of light and shadow to create amazing picture. This exhibit highlights many artists who were inspired by his work and styles.
Chihuly Center – Morean Art Center
In 1917, a group of artists joined together to form the Art Club of St. Petersburg. Over the next decades, this group formed one of the largest centers of art creation in Florida. In the 1990’s they opened the Morean Art Center on St. Petersburg’s Central Ave. Today that building includes a gallery, classrooms, a glassblowing studio, and the largest clay center in the southeast U.S.
In 2010 the Morean Center reached out to Dale Chihuly to open a permanent collection of his work in St. Petersburg. The Chihuly Collection is home to 18 installations that highlight several of the artists most popular series.
Nuts and Bolts
- The Museum of Fine Arts is located at 225 Beach Drive NE
- It is open Tues – Sun 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (selected Thursdays until 8:00 PM)
- The entrance fees are Adults $24/ Seniors and College Students $19/ Youth $12
- Chihuly Center is located at 720 Central Ave
- It is open every day – Mon – Sa 10:00 AM – 5:00, Sun 12 noon – 5:00
- The Entrance fee is Adults $22/ Seniors $20/ Students $16
