The St Petersburg FL art scene is vibrant, not only because of several amazing museums but also because of the active community of artists. As you explore St Pete keep an eye out for decorated dolphin statues, street art murals, and remarkable museums.
The Dali Museum
Visit The Dali Museum in St Petersburg Florida for a magnificent look into the art genius. Early in his career Dali studied Freud then moved on to surrealism. Dali’s first surrealist work, Girl with Curls, in 1926 when he also was expelled art school. He thought that the teachers were not competent enough to judge his work. He later broke from Surrealists when they became Communists.
Dali reveled in recording his dreams. He went to sleep holding a metal key with his hand over a metal tray. When the key fell, the clatter startled him awake and he recorded his dream sequences. The current interactive VR experience at The Dali Museum looks at his dreams.
In 1976, when Salvador Dali was 72, he completed perhaps his greatest technical challenge. Called Gala Contemplating the Mediterranean Sea, it is three images on one canvas. Up close it is a female looking at Mediterranean sunset, from 20 meters it is Lincoln, and from various distances also Jesus on the cross. Gala was a married woman and the relationship with Dali caused caused his father to boot him from house.
Find more Dali quirky fun outside The Dali Museum. Sit on a melting clock bench and take a St Pete selfie with the Dali mustache.
Cafe Gala at The Dali Museum serves really yummy food and local craft beer. US Gulf Coast Travel tip: If there are more than five people in line at the cafe, sit at the counter for quicker service.
A Dali Museum coupon is sometimes available through Groupon and other sources. Information about Dali Museum discounts can be found on their website.
Chihuly Collection at Morean Arts Center
The Chihuly Collection in St Petersburg FL is housed in a building specifically built for the glass artist’s collection. In fact, it is the first Chihuly installation to be so permanently arranged in a dedicated building for it. Why did Dale Chihuly choose St Petersburg?
I cannot possibly portray the amazingness of the Chihuly glass artwork. You must visit St Pete and see it yourself.
Museum of Fine Arts, St Pete FL
The permanent collection of the Museum of Fine Arts in St Petersburg Florida covers 5,000 years of creativity up to the present day.
On a prior visit to the Museum of Fine Arts in St Pete, a temporary exhibit of Star Wars memorabilia was just ending its run.
St Pete Street Murals
Explore the buildings, streets, and alleys in downtown St Petersburg Central Arts District to see amazing public art. If you are lucky to visit St Pete in early October, check out the fun SHINE Mural Festival, one of the best Florida Gulf Coast events.
During your explorations, drop into Florida CraftArt (501 Central Avenue) to shop for artwork and crafts from local Florida artists. The Walking Mural Tour also departs from the store every Saturday at 10am.
St Pete Art Walk
The St Petersburg ArtWalk runs the second Saturday of every month from 5pm to 9pm. St Pete FL art galleries offer cost-friendly new artworks through the Warehouse Arts District, EDGE District, and Grand Central District. You can download a St Pete Art Walk Map from the St Petersburg Arts Alliance website.
Getting to St Petersburg FL
To explore all this amazing St Pete art, convenient flights arrive frequently at various Florida airports. Downtown St Pete is about a 20 minute drive from PIE (St Pete-Clearwater airport), 25 minutes from Tampa, and a two hour drive from Orlando airport.
Another great place to eat in St Pete serves one of our 13 Best Grouper Sandwiches in Florida.
Have you explored the St Pete FL art Scene? Share your favorites.
Well put. St Pete has great art. Thank you.
St Pete is not only a museum town but a full blown art town. The street art mural and support for local artists is inspiring.
MFA St Pete has amazing part time exhibits and hopefully will have a great one when you visit.
You should. There are Chihuly exhibits all over the world but he specifically choose this location for his first permanent collection.
I am a huge Chihuly fan. Will have to get to St. Petersburg to see this exhibit.
I love downtown St. Pete. Have been to most of the museums you mention and enjoyed them all. Will have to get to the Fine Arts Museum next time I visit.
It’s been a while since we’ve hung out in those parts, so I’m glad to know St. Pete’s a museum town!
Something about the heat that attracts artistry and creativity.
There’s not only art, but GREAT art in St. Petersburg!! I knew about the Dali museum, but not the others. Thank you for this great article!!
Now that is a great tip. Y’all go check out the glass making demos, too.
Love the art scene in St Pete Florida, especially the Dali Museum and Chihuly exhibit. I believe you can also watch glass making demonstrations behind the Chihuly building.
I also have more to explore. You caught two of the biggies. Try the MFA and street murals next visit.
Can you believe you can go to Dali and Chihuly museums in one place?
There is definitely something to be said about feeding the pelicans. So fun.
Have you been to St. Pete? I do think you would really enjoy the place.
The art culture and prominence was definitely a surprising thing about St. Pete to me.
We never realized tha St. Petersburg, Florida was such an art mecca. Now we will have to add it to our travel list. Thanks.
Well, Florida does seem to have more than its share of art. (BTW, loved that Dali bench.) I was also recently impressed art-wise in Fort Lauderdale, https://travelswithcarole.blogspot.com/2018/01/sights-to-see-fort-lauderdale-nsu-art.html
This totally my type of scene, love visiting anything creative in a destination. Thanks for the tour.
Thanks so much for this terrific post, Charles. I’ve been to St. Petersburg, FLA several times. But I have spent all of my times there on the beach or feeding the pelicans on The Pier. I’d LOVE to visit again and take in all of these art options.
What a great range of art! Chihuly and Dali are two of my favorites
I love checking out the art wherever I go, and the Dali and Chihuly museums were definitely a highlight of my visit to St Petersburg. I didn’t have time for anything else but now I want to go back and do the rest of these!