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DIFFERENT BY DESIGN THE BUILDING YOU KNOW. THE STORIES IT HOLDS.
THOSE OF US WHO ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO CALL SARASOTA HOME KNOW THE BEAUTIFUL, TOWERING BUILDING LOCATED ON SOUTH TAMIAMI TRAIL. You’ve probably driven by the landmark hundreds, if not thousands, of times. Once the home of Sarasota High School, the Collegiate Neo-Gothic architectural treasure is now the site of the city’s only museum dedicated to modern and contemporary art: Sarasota Art Museum of Ringing College of Art and Design. | Opened in 2019, Sarasota Art Museum (SAM) features an ever-rotating lineup of world-class exhibitions. The Museum showcases work by nationally recognized and emerging artists across all media, from traditional painting and sculpture to site-specific installations that burst off the wall, immersing visitors within an artful experience.
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A SLICE OF HISTORY “It may be the most recognizable feature on the Sarasota landscape,” wrote Sarasota Herald-Tribune in 2004 of the historic former Sarasota High School. | Today, Sarasota Art Museum has revitalized and reimagined the monumental landmark and architectural gem as a contemporary art museum, connecting Sarasota’s past with its present. The building, designed by M. Leo Elliott in the Collegiate Neo-Gothic style, opened in 1927 and served as part of Sarasota High School until 1996. The building continued to be used for adult programs until March of 2003. Almost a century following its opening, the former school sat dormant, and rumors surfaced that it would be demolished. | In 2004 Sarasota County Schools launched the Sarasota High School New Life Initiative “to implement a collaborative, community-based process to identify and recommend the most feasible and financially viable uses for the historic high school.” Thanks to generous funding from the School Board, the City of Sarasota, Sarasota County, the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and private donors, and in-kind assistance from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Stuart Barger of BMK Architects of Sarasota was engaged to serve as a community facilitator for the initiative. BMK Architects also handled renovation projects for Sarasota County Courthouse, City Hall, and Sarasota Opera House. A steering committee was formed, made up of 35 citizens from the community, to help determine reuse options. | More than 150 ideas were proposed. Ultimately, a group of 13 individuals came together with the vision to transform the historic site into the city’s first contemporary art museum. They turned to Ringling College of Art and Design for support, and after a two-year dialogue with area arts, education, and community leaders, the project for an adaptive reuse of the building was underway.
Visitor viewing “Lillian Blades: Through the Veil,” June 1-October 26, 2025, Sarasota Art Museum. Photo by Harry Sayer.
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Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design opened to the public in December of 2019. Today, SAM is home to 15,000 square feet of gallery exhibition space, where nationally touring shows, as well as curated and commissioned exhibits by both renowned and emerging artists, deepen visitors’ appreciation for 20th and 21st century art. The building is also home to Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Ringling College (OLLI), which offers educational programs that enrich the lives of mature adults in Sarasota and Manatee counties. | In addition to the three-story main building, the Museum complex also includes a one-story Modernist structure designed by prominent architect Paul Rudolph, a pioneer of the Sarasota School of Architecture. The building was constructed in 1959 and opened in 1960. Today, this building houses SAM’s popular on-site restaurant, Bistro, and art studios. | Ringling College of Art and Design owns a third historic structure, adjacent to the Museum: the former home of Galloway Furniture, designed by renowned architect Victor Lundy. This structure was closed to the public and covered with wood panels. However, a mural painted by local artist and Ringling College alum “Mr. Fingertips” pays homage to the architectural treasure that lives on inside.
Curious visitors can learn about and explore all three historic structures through SAM’s popular Museum Architecture Walking Tour led by Architecture Sarasota President Marty Hylton.
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NOW ON VIEW Art Deco: The Golden Age of Illustration
Janet Echelman: Radical Softness
This season, Sarasota Art Museum shines a spotlight on Art Deco as the art form celebrates its centennial anniversary. Art Deco: The Golden Age of Illustration showcases 100 rare posters from the Crouse collection created by some of the world’s earliest graphic designers during the 1920s and 1930s. | “ T hese posters were never meant to survive,” explained Shearer. “They were meant to be broadsides, put up and torn down like billboards we see today. Not only have these remarkable works lasted, but they have survived 100 years, thanks to collectors like Bill Crouse.” | “We have been collecting Art Deco objects and furniture for more than 40 years,” shares Crouse. “And we are still in awe that these modern-looking pieces are 80 to 100 years old.” | In addition to 100 posters for 100 years, Art Deco: The Golden Age of Illustration features barware dating back to the Prohibition era, also from the Crouse collection, and Art Deco furniture from the Wolfsonian Museum at Florida International University in Miami.
Now also on view is a solo exhibition by world renowned artist Janet Echelman, Radical Softness. Known for her use of centuriesold fishing net knotting techniques, Echelman sculpts at the scale of buildings and city blocks. Now, SAM’s exhibition gives visitors a rare opportunity to experience the acclaimed artist’s work up close, peek behind the scenes of her creative process, and experience works from across Echelman’s 40-year career for the first time. Visitors can expect to walk under and around the large floating net sculptures for which the artist is best known. This exhibition also features early works by Echelman across various media, including batik dye and acrylic on canvas, charcoal and chalk on paper, textiles, and more, and a series of never-before-seen cyanotypes. “Radical Softness contextualizes Janet Echelman’s practice, revealing the narratives, influences, and processes that drive her work. At its core, the exhibition highlights Echelman’s use of softness as a powerful tool—not only in material but as a philosophy,” said Lacie Barbour, associate curator of exhibitions at Sarasota Art Museum.
Below left to right; Visitors viewing “Art Deco: The Golden Age of Illustration.” Photo by Peter Acker; Installation view “Janet Echelman: Radical Softness.” Photo by Ryan Gamma; Virginia Shearer. Photo by Nancy Guth.
DIFFERENT BY DESIGN
It’s what SAM has (and doesn’t have) that sets it apart. “We are different by design,” says Executive Director Virginia Shearer. “SAM is one of the few kunsthalle museums in the country.” | While traditional Museums have continuous exhibits and hundreds of works in storage, a kunsthalle museum is one that has no permanent collection. Instead, kunsthalle museums focus on hosting temporary exhibitions that are constantly rotating. | “And what’s especially exciting about this model is that it means there’s something completely new to see and discover every time you visit,” adds Shearer. | What also makes SAM distinct is its focus on supporting contemporary artists throughout the creative process and at every stage of their careers. In addition to showcasing exhibitions by nationally and internationally recognized artists, SAM is also a place where an up-and-coming contemporary artist can receive their first solo museum show. | “We’re a museum that will give an artist the rare opportunity to take a risk and create a never-before-seen site-specific installation right here in our galleries,” says Shearer. “That’s something that almost never happens at major institutions.” | For Shearer, there are as many ways in which SAM has become an important part of our vibrant Sarasota arts community as there are people who have made memories at the cherished site. | “This place is a reservoir of indelible memories for people,” shares Shearer. “And, when you think about it, that’s what museums do. It’s not what a museum has that’s most important. It’s about what a museum means to the people who visit—the memories and stories that begin in the museum and then live on in the hearts and minds of its visitors—that is what we hope to inspire here at SAM.” SA RA SOTA A RT MUSEUM B R AND STORY FEAT UR E | SRQ MAG A ZINE | JANUARY 202 6
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BEYOND THE GALLERIES Sarasota Art Museum is more than a place for a daytime, artfilled stroll. SAM hosts hundreds of public programs each year, from artist talks and gallery tours to live music events, artisanal food and beverage programs, film screenings, and more. “Our Museum has really become a cultural hub for the Sarasota community,” shared Shearer. “We love that locals and tourists alike have made the Museum part of their lives, family traditions, and social calendars.”
BISTRO A trip to SAM is not complete without a stop at Bistro. Featuring farm-totable fare inspired by Florida’s regional fruit stands and farmer’s markets, Bistro offers a can’t-miss dining experience during your visit.
SHOP
Above: Jazz Thursday performers at the Sarasota Art Museum. Below: Guests exploring the Museum SHOP after visiting the exhibits. Photos by Daniel Perales.
Before you depart, be sure to stop into the Museum SHOP for some art-inspired treasure hunting. The SHOP at SAM offers more than your typical Museum gift shop. With a hand-picked selection of statement jewelry, minimalist home goods, engaging reads, fair trade children’s toys, and more, there’s a souvenir, gift, or treasure for every visitor just waiting to be discovered.
CLASSES Almost a century later, the former Sarasota High School has never stopped being a destination for learning. Through The Studios at SAM, Sarasota Art Museum offers a community for art-makers of all ages and experience levels. With on-site, professional-grade art studios for ceramics, drawing and painting, and mixed-media, all are welcome to gather, create, and connect through the power of self-expression with The Studios at SAM.
Plan your visit For more information about exhibitions on view, scheduling a group tour, upcoming programs, classes, and more, visit SarasotaArtMuseum.org or call 941-309-4300.
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Above, left to right: Summer Camp at Sarasota Art Museum. Photo by Karen Arango. Pottery workshop, photo by Barbara Banks.
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