{"id":25368,"date":"2025-10-29T17:22:13","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T17:22:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/25368\/"},"modified":"2025-10-29T17:22:13","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T17:22:13","slug":"cotton-candy-daydream-brings-a-blend-of-contemporary-pop-art-surrealism-and-mysticism-to-st-pete","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/25368\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Cotton Candy Daydream\u2019 brings a blend of contemporary pop art, surrealism and mysticism to St. Pete"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"ACredit: c\/o James Hartzell<\/p>\n

St. Petersburg\u2019s warehouse district has a few post-Halloween treats for art lovers this weekend.<\/p>\n

On Sunday, Nov. 2, Bayboro Brewing<\/a> hosts an artist reception for \u201cCotton Candy Daydream\u201d<\/a>\u2014a spooky-meets-sweet exhibition featuring Orlando-based artists Cake Marques and MikeyBear McGrath.<\/p>\n

Curated by St. Pete\u2019s own James Hartzell, the free event runs from 4 p.m.-8 p.m., overlapping with Natalie Kulka\u2019s Songwriters Round, a Nashville-style showcase of original music and the stories behind the songs.<\/p>\n

\"\"\/<\/p>\n

Marques and McGrath may hail from Orlando, but they\u2019re no strangers to St. Pete\u2019s art scene\u2014or to Hartzell himself. The three have shown together in multiple exhibitions over the years, and Hartzell says he\u2019s long admired the technical quality of their work.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhether it\u2019s a painting of a peregrine falcon or a spooky clown, Cake\u2019s stuff blows my mind,\u201d Hartzell told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. \u201cAnd I really like the vibrancy you get from Mikey\u2019s pieces.\u201d<\/p>\n

In \u201cCotton Candy Daydream,, the duo\u2019s work lands somewhere between contemporary pop art and surrealism. Marques paints realistic oil portraits on canvas or panel, while McGrath paints dreamlike imagery in bold, illustrative strokes\u2014often in shades of pink\u2014using acrylics on wood.<\/p>\n

The show\u2019s title came from the artists themselves.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are some shared colors that are reminiscent of cotton candy, but not in everything,\u201d Hartzell told CL. \u201cI think it\u2019s kind of like a state of mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCotton Candy Daydream\u201d brings spooky, mystical vibes to Bayboro, despite not exactly being a Halloween show\u2014Hartzell cites Marques\u2019 tribute to \u201cThe Shining,\u201d painted in the style of American Gothic, and a spooky clown.<\/p>\n

\"PaintingCredit: c\/o James Hartzell<\/p>\n

Bayboro Brewing, which opened in St. Pete\u2019s Warehouse Arts District in March 2020, has always been art-friendly, according to Hartzell.<\/p>\n

Their earliest publicly documented art event, held in conjunction with the SHINE mural festival in October 2021, coupled a Spraycation beer release with a tattoo art show, live music, live mural painting and walk-in tattoos.<\/p>\n

Around the summer of 2022, the brewery established itself as a regular exhibition space with Chad Mize\u2019s \u201cMelted.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hartzell started curating the space full-time in May of 2024 and has featured more than a dozen St. Pete-based artists since then. \u201cCotton Candy Daydream\u201d marks his first show featuring artists from outside St. Pete\u2014a testament to the growing cross-city dialog between Central Florida\u2019s art scenes.<\/p>\n

Visitors can browse about 20 artworks in the show, most of which are available for purchase via QR codes posted next to each piece.<\/p>\n

\u201cCotton Candy Daydream\u201d runs through Nov. 31 at Bayboro Brewing, located at 2390 5th Ave. S in St. Petersburg.<\/p>\n

\"PaintingCredit: c\/o James Hartzell<\/p>\n

\"Pop-surrealistCredit: c\/o James Hartzell<\/p>\n

\"RoundCredit: c\/o James Hartzell<\/p>\n

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This article appears in Oct. 23 \u2013 29, 2025<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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