Be inspired. Explore curated art and juried shows exhibited in four galleries.
Gallery hours: M-F 10 am-5 pm, Saturday 12 pm-5 pm
Admission is free; art is available for purchase.
On View April 29 - May 10, 2025
North Sarasota County Spring Art Show featuring the creative talent of over 1500 young artists, grades K-12
The Spring Art Show is a longstanding and treasured annual exhibition at the Art Center, led by school coordinators Angela Hartvigsen and Debra Markley. Showcasing the creative talent of over 1,500 young artists spanning grades K-12, the show epitomizes the best of their artistic endeavors from the academic year.
This enduring collaboration affords students the invaluable opportunity to present their work in a professional environment, granting them and their artwork exposure to numerous families and community members. The accolades bestowed upon high school students during an evening ceremony are particularly noteworthy, with local organizations generously contributing awards exceeding $20,000.
Elementary students also enjoy two evening award ceremonies dedicated to recognizing their imaginative achievements.
The exhibit features artwork from schools across the northern region of Sarasota, encompassing both public and charter institutions. Meanwhile, the South County Spring Art Show, another annual fixture, takes place at the Venice Art Center.
Artist Talks & Special Exhibition Events
Join us for Artist Talks to hear their inspiration, process, stories, and more.
Doors open for mingling and refreshments at 5 pm, Artist Talks starts promptly at 5:30 pm.
Watch previous Artists Talks and Juror Critiques on our YouTube channel!
Upcoming Exhibitions
On View May 22 - Aug 2, 2025
Opening Night Reception: Thursday, May 22, 5-7 pm
Annual Juried Regional Show: Vice & Virtue
On View Aug 21 - Sept 27, 2025
Opening Night Reception: Thursday, August 21, 5-7 pm
Jacob Z. Wan | ALSO Youth | D’ Calvert | Juried Show: Self Portrait
Juried Exhibitions
Our juried exhibitions showcase local and regional artists in our Atrium Gallery, with all artwork available for purchase. Each show has a different theme and all media are welcome.
Jurors are experts in their fields and include curators, historians, educators, artists, and art critics. Jurors recognize extraordinary talent with the selection of awards from 1st place to honorable mention. Gallery visitors also select a People’s Choice award winner.
Call to Artists
Artists of all levels of expertise are encouraged to submit work and be a part of the community! All submissions are online and are open to all artists and mediums unless otherwise mentioned. Please call 941-365-2032 if you need assistance submitting work.
Annual Juried Regional Show: Vice & Virtue
The Annual Juried Regional Show is Art Center Sarasota’s largest and most prestigious juried exhibition, spanning all four of our galleries. This year, we invite artists to delve into the dualities of the human condition—Vice & Virtue.
By definition, vice represents behaviors deemed morally wrong by society, while virtue embodies excellence and integrity. But in today’s world, where do we draw the line? Through this theme, artists are challenged to explore the shifting boundaries of morality, shaped by cultural norms, religious beliefs, and political landscapes. What defines good and evil in contemporary society? And perhaps more intriguingly, does a gray area exist between them?
Meet the Juror, Jessica Todd
Jessica Todd is a curator, writer and artist. She is passionate about building the creative infrastructures that support artists as well as studying and addressing issues of equity, access and inclusion in the arts. Todd has worked with a number of arts organizations, including Tempus Projects, Artspace Tampa Initiative, Crab Devil and the Morean Arts Center. In 2022, Todd opened Parachute Gallery in Ybor City, first serving as an exhibition space for national artists and later a retail gallery representing local artists. Todd has published articles, curated exhibitions, and exhibited her own artwork locally and nationally. She holds a BA in Art from Penn State University, a Diploma in Hispanic Studies from the University of Barcelona and an MFA in Jewelry/Metals/Enameling from Kent State University.
• Submission Deadline: Sun, Apr 27, 2025
• Drop Off: May 13 & 14 | Pick Up: Aug 4 & 5
• On View: May 22 - Aug 2, 2025
• Opening Night Reception: Thursday, May 22, 5-7 pm
Juried Show: Self Portrait
Self Portrait invites artists to turn the lens inward, becoming both creator and subject. This exhibition challenges artists to explore what they choose to reveal—about their inner world, their artistic identity, and the emotions that shape them.
Self-portraits offer an intimate glimpse into the artist’s soul, reflecting their cultural influences, personal history, and place in time. Whether crafted for self-promotion, personal discovery, a declaration of identity, or simply the joy of creation, self-portraits serve as a powerful bridge between artist and audience—a timeless expression of the shared human experience.
Meet Juror Odeta Xheka
Odeta Xheka makes art to claim her voice as a woman artist because art is the opposite of speechlessness. Her work has been juried into prestigious national and international competitions and has been featured in art magazines and literary journals.
Born in the UNESCO heritage site of Berat, Albania, Xheka currently lives in Tampa, FL where she is the founder/director of OXH Gallery. OXH is focused on a cross-generational, multi-medium approach to exhibiting which goes beyond the conventional white cube paradigm with the goal to evolve into a lasting hub for culture and community.
• Online Submission Dates: Tue, Apr 29 - Sun, Jul 20, 2025
• Drop Off: Aug 5 & 6 | Pick Up: Sep 29 & 30
• On View: Aug 21 - Sept 27, 2025
• Opening Reception: Thu, Aug 21, 2025, 5-7 pm
Solo Exhibition Submissions
Art Center Sarasota is now accepting proposals for solo exhibitions.
Submitting a proposal does not guarantee a solo exhibition. Only artists who are under consideration for a solo exhibition will be contacted.
Click here to learn more or to submit your solo exhibition proposal prospectus.