A vibrant event photograph from the 'Skin' art show at South University in Tampa, Florida, on July 19, 2024. Three individuals stand close together, smiling warmly at the camera. On the left, a person with dark hair styled up is adorned in intricate full-body paint featuring swirling patterns of blue, green, and yellow, while wearing delicate iridescent fairy wings. In the center, an individual with shoulder-length dark hair wears an olive green corset top, camouflage cargo pants, and layered necklaces. On the right, a third person with dark, textured hair worn up is dressed in a metallic chainmail-style halter top and large hoop earrings. The background reveals a brightly lit indoor event space with vibrant purple and blue ambient lighting, a partial wall sign, and some green foliage on the lower left.‘Skin’ art show at South University in Tampa, Florida on July 19, 2024. Credit: Photo by Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Get a babysitter because one of Tampa’s raciest live events is celebrating a big anniversary this weekend. “Skin” welcomes body painters, sketch artists, DJs, and a culinary team back to South University for two nights.

The event, which is 21-and-up, includes live performances, body painting, audience participation and more.

“The word ‘grown and sexy’ gets overused, but what we provide is a real atmosphere where people can come and be comfortable in their skin. Art is for sale, there’s networking, it’s a lot of fun. People get to dress up in whatever they want in an all-adult setting,” co-founder Hampton Allen told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. 

Proceeds from the show benefit the Fine Art Forward nonprofit, which works to “provide fine art education, coaching, and showcase opportunities to Visual artists, models, poets, and musicians as they continue to learn and refine their skills.”

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This article appears in July 09 – 15, 2026.

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