{"id":137319,"date":"2026-01-30T06:09:16","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T06:09:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/137319\/"},"modified":"2026-01-30T06:09:16","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T06:09:16","slug":"seven-emerging-tampa-bay-artists-to-watch-in-2026-and-beyond","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/137319\/","title":{"rendered":"Seven emerging Tampa Bay artists to watch in 2026 and beyond"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"TheThe Jan. 29, 2026 cover of Creative Loafing Tampa Bay Credit: Illustration by Clancy Riehm. Design by Jack Spatafora<\/p>\n

When former Creative Loafing Editor-in-Chief David Warner decided to feature up-and-coming Tampa bay actors and dancers<\/a> in this year\u2019s Spring Arts Issue, the idea soon expanded to include visual artists as well.<\/p>\n

We reached out to some of the best curators in the Tampa Bay area\u2014people whose job is to discover new artists and showcase their artwork in local art centers and museums.<\/p>\n

Among them is Amanda Cooper, Chief Curator for the , whose \u201cFresh Squeezed: Emerging Artists in Florida\u201d exhibition enters its 10th year in 2026. Cooper now receives applications from visual artists across the state and discovers exciting new talent every year.<\/p>\n

Tracy Midulla, Founder and Director of , is known for her keen eye for talent and for supporting contemporary artists throughout the region.<\/p>\n

Robin O\u2019Dell, Executive Curator for the , is always out on the scene, supporting her colleagues and helping keep Tampa Bay\u2019s photography scene alive and well.<\/p>\n

We asked these folks to recommend an emerging artist or artists to watch in 2026.<\/p>\n

The more artists we spoke with, the more we considered what it means to emerge. The definitions vary. In one sense, it means \u201cto become.\u201d Other sources define it as moving out or away from something and coming into view, becoming apparent or important.<\/p>\n

What does it mean to become an artist in Tampa? Does it mean leaving the corporate world to pursue the arts full-time? To replace one\u2019s cubicle with a studio, art markets and murals? To have one\u2019s first solo show or big public art commission? To re-establish one\u2019s career in a new country after fleeing one\u2019s homeland? To be named a city\u2019s photo laureate? To create a body of work that fills a 200-page book? To graduate with your Master of Fine Arts?<\/p>\n

As you\u2019ll discover from the artists featured in this issue, it can mean any of these things.<\/p>\n

With each interview, we dove deeper into the people and places that actively support emerging artists in the Tampa Bay area, and we came back with a great list of places to visit and shows to see in 2026.<\/p>\n

\"AClancy Riehm at Dave Decker Photography in Ybor City, Florida on Jan. 12, 2026. Credit: Dave Decker \/ Creative Loafing Tampa Bay<\/p>\n

Tampa artist Clancy Riehm has a busy year ahead of her<\/a><\/p>\n

\"AZack Wittman at Dave Decker Photography in Ybor City, Florida on Jan. 12, 2026. Credit: Dave Decker \/ Creative Loafing Tampa Bay<\/p>\n

Zack Wittman\u2019s latest project documents Tampa\u2019s last cigar factories<\/a><\/p>\n

\"AJesi Cason at Dave Decker Photography in Ybor City, Florida on Jan. 12, 2026. Credit: Dave Decker \/ Creative Loafing Tampa Bay<\/p>\n

Meet Jesi Cason, St. Petersburg Month of Photography\u2019s Photo Laureate<\/a><\/p>\n

\"APatrick Carew at Dave Decker Photography in Ybor City, Florida on Jan. 12, 2026. Credit: Dave Decker \/ Creative Loafing Tampa Bay<\/p>\n

New work from Tampa artist Patrick Carew explores what it means to experience HIV in the post-prep era<\/a><\/p>\n

\"AMary-Helen Horne at Dave Decker Photography in Ybor City, Florida on Jan. 12, 2026. Credit: Dave Decker \/ Creative Loafing Tampa Bay<\/p>\n

Second-act Tampa artist Mary-Helen Horne discovers printmaking while planning her retirement<\/a><\/p>\n

\"ATatiana Mesa Paj\u00e1n at Dave Decker Photography in Ybor City, Florida on Jan. 12, 2026. Credit: Dave Decker \/ Creative Loafing Tampa Bay<\/p>\n

Tatiana Mesa Paj\u00e1n was doing well as an artist in Cuba\u2014and had to start over when she fled to Tampa<\/a><\/p>\n

\"AFary Charles (aka Junkyrd) at Dave Decker Photography in Ybor City, Florida on Jan. 12, 2026. Credit: Dave Decker \/ Creative Loafing Tampa Bay<\/p>\n

Tampa artist Fary Charles channeled rage, disappointment, and a desire to prove himself into his latest solo show<\/a><\/p>\n

Pitch in to help make the Tampa Bay Journalism Project a success.<\/a><\/p>\n

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This article appears in Jan. 29 \u2013 Feb. 04<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n

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