Art Center Sarasota is celebrating its 100th year with a Centennial Season that opens Oct. 9. The yearlong slate of exhibitions and events honors the organization’s roots while spotlighting contemporary artists shaping Sarasota’s future.
Founded in 1926 by a group of local artists eager to build Sarasota’s cultural identity, the center has grown into the city’s oldest visual arts institution and a creative hub for generations. From early exhibitions of regional painters to today’s experimental installations, its galleries have mirrored the evolution of Sarasota itself.
“Our Centennial Season is an invitation for the entire community to celebrate Sarasota’s remarkable arts legacy,” said Executive Director Katherine Ceaser. “This milestone honors a century of powerful art history, creativity, and community — and it also marks the beginning of our next 100 years.”
The first show, on view Oct. 9 through Nov. 15, sets the tone for the upcoming season. A group exhibition by the SARTQ Artist Collective, ‘Legacy x Response’, reimagines the center’s history through the lens of today’s artists.
Other highlights include Juan Alonso-Rodríguez’s ‘Earthly Glyphs’, a project inspired by geological strata; Njeri Kinuthia’s ‘Reconstruction: Mwacha Mila NiSi Mtumwa’, which reflects on heritage and identity through textiles; and the juried ‘Small Works Show’, curated this year by interdisciplinary artist Samo Davis. The opening reception will be held Oct. 9 from 5 to 7 p.m. at 707 N. Tamiami Trail.
The centennial season will also feature the inaugural ‘Authors & Illustrators Book Fair’ on Dec. 6 and the revival of the once-beloved ‘Beaux Arts Ball’ on March 21, 2026, at the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium. The ball was first launched in the 1940s and will return this season with a bespoke aesthetic of jewels, costumes, performances, and celebration.
For details, visit ArtSarasota.org or call 941-365-2032.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Art Center Sarasota kicks off centennial season with new exhibitions
Reporting by Samantha Gholar, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
