Karina Yanes

In her solo exhibition, Olive Branches Carried Us Home, Karina Yanes combines symbols of Palestinian endurance and identity with imagery drawn from her family’s stories of life in Palestine, reflecting on how cultural symbols and lived experiences intertwine to carry traditions and memories across generations. Their transformation into ceramic gives these narratives the power to endure.  Karina is a Gainesville, FL-based artist whose work is rooted in her upbringing as a Puerto Rican-Palestinian-Midwesterner.

She received her MFA from the University of Florida, and her work has been exhibited in group exhibitions across the country. She recently had a solo exhibition at the Morean Center for Clay and has an upcoming solo exhibition at Greenwich House Pottery in 2027.

She has been an artist-in-residence at ACRE, Craigardan, the Open Studio Residency at Haystack School of Craft, and the CIRCA Graduate Exchange. She was a 2024  recipient of the NCECA Graduate Fellowship and was selected for Fresh Squeezed 8: Emerging Artists in Florida at the Morean Arts Center. 

St. Pete Ceramics

St. Pete Ceramics is a community clay studio founded in 2024 by ceramic artists Beth Miranda and Ethan Fielder. Built on the belief that creativity flourishes through collaboration, the studio welcomes everyone from first-time makers to professional artists, providing the space, tools, and support to pursue ambitious ceramic work.

On January 28, 2026, a devastating fire destroyed the studio. In the days and months that followed, the St. Pete community responded with extraordinary generosity—offering helping hands, meals, supplies, encouragement, and financial support that made it possible to establish a temporary studio and continue creating. Quite simply, St. Pete Ceramics would not be here today without that outpouring of support.

This exhibition brings together functional ceramic works by Beth, Ethan, and members of St. Pete Ceramics, all created in the temporary studio that emerged from the aftermath of the fire. Alongside the artwork, the exhibition shares the story of resilience, rebuilding, and the remarkable community that carried the studio forward. A portion of all artwork sales will directly support the ongoing effort to rebuild and permanently re-establish St. Pete Ceramics.

The original studio location will become the future home of The Clay Collective of Pinellas, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the creative, financial, and mental well-being of ceramic artists and small clay businesses throughout Pinellas County. While much has been accomplished, significant work remains. Every purchase and every contribution helps build a stronger future for this creative community.

Photo by Barbara Banks

Jorge Blanco

In his solo exhibition, Joy In Motion, Jorge Blanco showcases a collection of drawings, prints, and sculptures that celebrate playfulness and joy. 

Jorge is a Venezuelan-American artist, internationally recognized for his public sculptures, graphic design, and illustrations. He studied Industrial Design at the Neumann Institute of Design in Caracas before continuing his artistic training at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome, Italy. 

His story is one of evolution, from a curious child inspired by abstract art to a celebrated artist whose colorful, uplifting sculptures dot public spaces. Jorge served as the Creative Director of the Children's Museum of Caracas, and he is widely recognized as the creator of the long-running comic strip El Náufrago (The Castaway).

Since relocating to Sarasota in 1999, Blanco has completed numerous public art commissions throughout the United States, Venezuela, Japan, and Europe. His large-scale sculptures have been installed in civic spaces, parks, museums, educational institutions, and private collections, and his work has been exhibited extensively in galleries and museums internationally.

Strange Weather Juror Critique: Mon. Oct 19, at 4 pm

Strange Weather

This exhibition celebrates the surreal, inviting artists to explore worlds where reality bends, logic dissolves, and the unexpected becomes possible. Strange Weather serves as a metaphor for moments of transformation, uncertainty, and the uncanny rather than literal atmospheric conditions. Artists were encouraged to create work that embraces dreamlike imagery, psychological landscapes, improbable juxtapositions, and the strange beauty of the impossible. 

Meet the Juror, Danny Canton:

Danny Canton graduated from the School of Visual Arts with a BFA in Cinematography and has been in the film industry for over 50 years with experience as a director, producer and most notably as a director of photography. He has worked on a variety of projects including feature films, television programs, behind-the-scenes and making of studio films, industrial films, commercials, and documentaries.

Years after graduation, Danny returned to SVA to teach Film Production and Cinematography and eventually moved to Florida to build the online film program at Full Sail University. Throughout his career Danny has collaborated with renowned directors like Sydney Lumet, Barbara Walters, Norman Jewison, Sydney Pollack and Lee Grant. He has had the opportunity to work alongside such talents as Michael Douglas, Tom Selleck, Meryl Streep, Elizabeth Taylor and Robert DeNiro.

Danny continues to teach film for the Sarasota Film Society at Lakewood Ranch Cinemas and he is working on a number of projects including directing a documentary on local sculpture artist, Jorge Blanco.

Annual Juried Members Show

The Annual Juried Members Show is a celebration of the artists who make Art Center Sarasota such a vibrant creative community. Free from a prescribed theme, the exhibition welcomes original work in all media, showcasing the breadth of ideas, techniques, and perspectives represented by our members.

Every current member who submits is guaranteed inclusion, making this exhibition a unique opportunity to share your work, connect with fellow artists, and engage the community. Whether you are exhibiting for the first time or returning as a longtime participant, your work helps tell the story of Art Center Sarasota.

Meet the Juror, Alissa Silvers:

Alissa “Liss” Silvers is a Swiss-born muralist and visual artist based in Sarasota, FL, and the founder of Liss Design LLC. She is known for creating vibrant, large-scale murals that transform public and commercial spaces into immersive visual environments.

Her public art practice focuses on creating site-responsive murals that enhance architecture while fostering a sense of place and community pride. Whether working with city officials, business owners, or community organizations, Liss approaches each project with thoughtful design, professional execution, and attention to long-term durability.

• Online Submission Deadline: Sunday, Oct 25, 2026

• On View: Thursday, December 3, 2026 - Saturday, January 9, 2027

• Opening Night Reception: Thursday, December 3, 5-7 pm

• Art drop off dates are Nov 17 & 18, 2026; pickup dates are Jan 11 & 12, 2027

Holiday Sidewalk Sale

Share your work with holiday shoppers at Art Center Sarasota's 2026 Holiday Sidewalk Sale! Artists, artisans, and makers are invited to reserve an outdoor booth to sell original artwork, handcrafted goods, jewelry, ceramics, textiles, home décor, holiday gifts, and more.

Held during the peak holiday shopping season, this festive outdoor market offers a wonderful opportunity to connect directly with the community, introduce your work to new collectors, and celebrate the creativity of Sarasota's local artists. Whether you're an emerging maker or an established artist, the Holiday Sidewalk Sale is the perfect place to showcase your work and be part of a fun, community-centered event.

The Holiday Sidewalk Sale will take place throughout the Sam & Sally Shapiro Sculpture Garden, the Andrew & Lathrop Ford Bayfront Sculpture Garden, and the Bayfront Promenade in front of the Art Center. 

• Online Submission Deadline: Sunday, Nov 1, 2026

• Artists will be notified of acceptance no later than Friday, November 6, 2024

• Sidewalk Sale: Saturday, December 5, 10 am-4 pm

Juried Show | Monochrome

In Monochrome, artists are invited to submit work created using a single color or tonal range. Through constraint and reduction, this exhibition highlights the power of a limited palette, encouraging bold, nuanced, and inventive approaches to value, texture, form, and composition across all media. Within this focused approach, subtle shifts in tone and surface can create depth, atmosphere, and unexpected complexity. Together, these works demonstrate how limitation can become a catalyst for creativity, pushing the boundaries of material, process, and perception. 

Meet the Juror, Simone Friend:

Simone Friend has spent more than 40 years working closely with artists, helping shape creative careers, and championing visual storytelling across disciplines. As co-founder of Friend & Johnson, she has dedicated her career to representing exceptional talent and supporting illustrators, photographers, directors, and animators in bringing their unique voices to the world.

Over the years, Simone has developed a deeply intuitive eye for artistic excellence through reviewing portfolios, mentoring artists, and building lasting relationships throughout the creative community. She is especially drawn to work that reflects originality, emotional depth, technical mastery, and a clear point of view.

Known for her ability to recognize both emerging talent and the continued evolution of established artists, Simone brings thoughtfulness, encouragement, and genuine respect for the creative process to everything she does. Her perspective has been shaped by decades of helping artists refine their vision while honoring the individuality and authenticity of their work.

• Online Submission Deadline: Sunday, December 13, 2026

• On View: Thursday, January 21 - Saturday, February 27, 2027

• Opening Night Reception: Thursday, January 21, 5-7 pm

• Art drop off dates are Jan 12 & 13, 2027; pickup dates are Mar 1 & 2, 2027