For 80 years, circus legend John Ringling’s important collection of Baroque paintings, tapestries, sculptures and more has been a beacon, attracting artists, collectors, enthusiasts and students—all of whom continue to nurture Sarasota’s far-reaching cultural reputation.

          The 66-acre estate of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, the state art museum of Florida, still represents the heart of the cultural community. Already home to nearly 100,000 square feet of galleries, the museum recently celebrated the opening of the 30,000-square-foot Tibbals Learning Center, a visitors’ pavilion, and the newly renovated 200-year-old Historic Asolo Theater. An additional 30,000 square feet of galleries and an education center are now under construction.

          Outside of the Ringling grounds and across the community, Sarasotans surround themselves with art of all shapes and sizes. From funky watercolors at downtown’s artist’s colony, Towles Court, to elegant glass sculptures on Palm Avenue; from playful creations on St. Armands Circle to the fresh approaches of students at the Ringling School of Art and Design, it’s impossible to paint all of Sarasota’s galleries with the same brush.

DOWNTOWN

Allyn Gallup Contemporary Art, 556 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota. 366-2093. Monthly exhibits, original paintings, sculptures and mixed media assemblages.

Amazon Imports and Gallery 53, 53 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota. 365-4442.

Angsana Imports, 1475 Main St., Sarasota. 330-1686. Asian home furnishings, art and accessories.

Art Uptown, 1367 Main St., Sarasota. 955-5409. Cooperative gallery featuring paintings, sculptures, ceramics, basketry and other media.

A Step Above, 1288 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota. 955-4477. Original art and glass, ceramics and jewelry.

Chasen Reed, 10 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota; 8215 Nature's Way, San Marco Plaza, Lakewood Ranch. 953-4400. Interior design showroom featuring fine art exhibits.

Coco Palm Gallery, 1255 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota. 955-1122.

Crissy Galleries, 640 S. Washington Blvd., Suite 150, Sarasota. 957-1110. Fine art and antiques.

Dabbert Gallery, 76 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota. 955-1315. Contemporary paintings, sculptures, etchings and bronzes. Custom framing.

Elizabeth Rice Fine Art and Antiques, 1467 Main St., Sarasota. 954-8575. Contemporary fine art, as well as Biedermeier furniture and other antiques.

Galleria Silecchia, 20 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota. 365-7414. National and international artists; regular shows.

Hodgell Gallery, 46 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota. 366-1146. Contemporary fine art and glass works.

Imperial Fine Art, 1453 Main St., Sarasota. 954-8901. Fine art prints and original works.

Kennedy Studios, 1472 Main St., Sarasota. 952-0358. Prints and posters.

Missing Link Collection, 556 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota. 366-6600. Art and furniture from Africa, the Americas and Asia.

Palm Avenue Gallery, 45 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota. 953-5757. Contemporary art and sculpture.

Paradise Gallery, 1359 Main St., Sarasota. 366-7155. Paintings, sculpture, jewelry and graphics.

Peter Paul Gallery, 47 S. Palm Ave., Suite 210, Sarasota. 955-8071. Local, national and international artists; thematic exhibitions, monthly exchanges.

Sonnet Gallery, 1920 Sarasota. 955-6443. Contemporary paintings, glass sculpture and designer furniture.

State of the Art Gallery, 1525 State St., Sarasota. 955-2787. National and international artists; thematic exhibitions.

Towles Court, just west of U.S. 301 between Adams and Morrill streets. 373-9101. Working artist colony; studios open daily. Gallery walk 6–10 p.m. every third Friday of the month.

William Hartman Gallery, 48 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota. 955-4785. Displays 18th- and 19th-century antique prints.

Yellow Bird Antiques, 640 S. Washington Blvd., Suite 203, Sarasota. 388-1823. Antiques and more.

LONGBOAT KEY

Exit Art, 5380 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. 383-4099; 203 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. 387-7395; 26 N. Boulevard of the Presidents, St. Armands Circle. 388-2827. Paintings, jewelry, home accessories; furniture by Herman Miller, Eames and more.

Longboat Framing Gallery, 6824 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. 383-8914.

Longboat Key Center for the Arts, 6860 Longboat Drive S., Longboat Key. 383-2345. Center offers classes, exhibits, sales, gallery.

ST. ARMANDS CIRCLE

Abbott Galleries, 18 S. Boulevard of the Presidents, St. Armands. 388-1818. Paintings and sculptures by award-winning artists.

Brock Publishing Company, 1900 Ben Franklin Drive, St. Armands. 388-2275. Seller of art and sculpture from national and international artists.

Maui Art Gallery, 321 John Ringling Blvd., Sarasota. 388-5305. Original paintings, limited-edition prints, giclées on canvas, contemporary metal art and puzzles by master marine artist David C. Miller.

Sage Spirit Gallery Inc., 17 Fillmore Drive, St. Armands. 388-2975. Collectible Native American jewelry, pottery, weavings and more.

Wyland Galleries of Sarasota, 314 John Ringling Blvd., St. Armands. 388-5331. Marine and wildlife art by Wyland and other environmental artists.

NEAR THE INTERSTATE

Cattleman Gallery of Western Art, 975 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota. 371-6811. Western and wildlife art; cowboy collectibles.

Frame Center and Gallery, 2881 Clark Road, Sarasota. 924-4141.

International Glass Art Outlet, 999A Cattlemen Road, Sarasota. 371-5492. Contemporary glass art and gifts. Also home to Sarasota School of Glass.

NORTH TRAIL

Art Center Sarasota, 707 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 365-2032. Association offers classes, workshops and exhibits by members and non-members.

John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. 351-1660. The state museum of Florida houses an extensive Baroque collection, modern collection and changing exhibitions.

Selby Gallery, Ringling School of Art and Design, 2700 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. 359-7563. Traveling shows, faculty exhibit and “Best of Ringling” student show.

VENICE

Clyde Butcher Gallery & Studio, 237 Warfield Ave., Venice. 486-0811. Black-and-white landscape photography featuring natural Florida environments.

Venice Art Center, 390 Nokomis Ave. S., Venice. 485-7136. The area’s oldest and largest community art center, offering exhibitions and classes.

TAMPA/ST. PETERSBURG

Museum of Fine Art, 255 Beach Drive N.E., St. Petersburg. (727) 896-2667. European and American art, photography, Greek and Roman antiquities, pre-Columbian and Asian art.

Salvador Dali Museum, 1000 Third St. S., St. Petersburg. (727) 823-3767. Permanent collection of works spanning Dali’s career.

Tampa Museum of Art, 600 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa. (813) 274-8130. Temporary exhibitions, along with a permanent collection of Greek and Roman antiquities.