For illustrator Clancy Riehm, moving to St. Petersburg in 2020 was a creative turning point. The lifelong artist has become one of the Tampa Bay Area’s most impactful and recognizable artists as she has starred in creating designs for everyone from the City of St. Pete to the Tampa Bay Lightning, all while developing a devoted following at markets and art shows all over town.
Originally from Pine Island, Riehm grew up surrounded by Florida’s natural beauty, but she says the arts were not as visible or celebrated there. That changed when she arrived in St. Pete, a city known for its murals, galleries, and artist-driven community.
“Originally from Pine Island, it was beautiful, but not much art is celebrated,” Riehm said. “When I moved here, I fell in love with St. Pete. Art is celebrated and thriving.”
That thriving creative environment helped Riehm turn her lifelong passion for illustration into a full time career.
From childhood comics to professional illustrator
Riehm’s connection to art began early and was encouraged at home.
“Both of my parents are more creatively inclined and encouraged my artistic pursuits,” she said. “I’ve been doing this since I was a baby. I was making little comics.”
She later studied illustration at Ringling College of Art and Design, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts after first completing an associate degree in graphic design. Like many emerging artists, however, the path to a sustainable career was not immediate.
After graduating, Riehm worked a traditional nine-to-five job while continuing to develop her artwork on the side. Over time, her creative opportunities began to outweigh the office schedule.
“I was there for about two years, and I was taking too much time off work for my art,” she said.
Eventually, she made the decision to leave her job and focus fully on illustration. For Riehm, the choice was about more than career satisfaction.
“I impact the community much more doing this art stuff than sitting in a little cubicle,” she said. “The best part is being on my own schedule and having total creative freedom.”
Working independently also brought a level of flexibility that fuels her creativity.
A screengrab from Riehm’s recent appearance on 10 Tampa Bay
Bringing art into the Tampa Bay sports world
Riehm’s bold digital illustrations have recently found a home in Tampa Bay’s sports scene. She created a Black Heritage collection for the Tampa Bay Lightning, drawing heavy inspiration from the Harlem Renaissance.
The project centered on the idea that hockey should be welcoming and accessible to everyone.
“Hockey isn’t the most accessible sport for most people to play,” Riehm said. “But it brings people together in a positive way.”
Her sports collaborations continue to grow. Riehm was also selected as the Black History Month artist for the Tampa Bay Rays, and recently applied to create additional artwork for the organization. Just a week after landing the opportunity, however, hurricane damage disrupted the project.
Back on track now, Riehm remains focused on what comes next.
“I’m always looking for opportunities,” she said. “My next target is the Bucs.”
Elevating digital art as fine art
Most of Riehm’s work is created digitally, often with a surprisingly minimal toolset.
“I really only use the pen tool on Illustrator,” she said.
Even as digital illustration becomes more common, Riehm says she still encounters hesitation when it comes to recognizing digital work in traditional fine art spaces.
“I’m trying to bridge the gap of digital art being recognized as fine art,” she said. “People are scared by it.”
To bring those digital pieces into the physical world, she produces prints, canvases, and stickers that she sells at markets throughout the city. You can frequently find her at local events like Indie Flea, Mezzo Market, and Uptown Funk, where St. Pete’s creative community gathers to support local artists and makers.
The St. Pete arts scene
Riehm’s work continues to gain recognition across the city. In addition to her collaborations with Tampa Bay sports teams, Mayor Ken Welch recently reached out to ask her to design a Black History Month poster for the City of St. Petersburg, which debuted this February.
Her work will also be featured in an upcoming exhibition at the Morean Arts Center from April 11 through July 19.
Riehm will also appear at several local events in the coming months, including a March 12 event with St. Pete artist Chad Mize at Green Bench Brewing Co., as well as summer celebrations for 727 Day.
