Stay up to date with the latest announcements from the Tampa Museum of Art. Our News section is your go-to source for official press releases and timely updates about the museum’s exhibitions, educational programs, community initiatives, and partnerships. Whether we’re unveiling a new exhibition, launching a special event, or sharing institutional milestones, you’ll find the most current information right here. This section is designed for journalists, supporters, and anyone interested in the evolving story of the museum. Check back often to stay informed about what’s next at the Tampa Museum of Art.
The Tampa Museum of Art announced today that its board has engaged global leadership advisory and executive search firm Russell Reynolds Associates to lead the international search for the Museum’s next Executive Director. The search comes as Dr. Michael Tomor prepares to retire at the end of March after over a decade serving as the Penny and Jeff Vinik Executive Director for a decade, a period marked by major institutional growth and the launch of the Museum’s Centennial Campaign for Renovation and Expansion.
The search will be led by Russell Reynolds’ arts and culture practice leaders Katherine Armstrong and Olivia Stam. The Museum welcomes applications from a wide array of candidates. Nominations, applications, or any other inquiries should be sent to TMAExecutiveDirector@russellreynolds.com.
“We are grateful for Michael’s extraordinary leadership and the vision he cast for the Tampa Museum of Art during a transformative period in its history,” said Ron Christaldi, Chair of the Tampa Museum of Art Board of Trustees and who is chairing the executive search committee. “Our committee is conducting a thorough global search for a successor who can build on this strong foundation, inspire our community, and continue elevating Tampa’s cultural landscape. This partnership with Russell Reynolds will aid us in identifying a dynamic leader who can guide the Museum through its next century of growth and impact.”
Tomor’s retirement, announced in December, comes after a 40-year career working at and leading art museums, including just over a decade at the helm of the Tampa Museum of Art. During his tenure in Tampa, Tomor has boldly led the Tampa Museum of Art into the future by acquiring 1,500 new objects for the museum’s permanent collection, dramatically increasing student and community outreach programs, including the introduction of the art and mental health program Connections. A major highlight of his tenure was the completion of a massive renovation that added over 17,500 square feet of exhibition space in two new promenades and 8 new galleries, plus the opening of the new 8,000-square-foot Vinik Family Education Center, which introduced three new classrooms with the capacity to offer ceramics, multi-media, and digital art classes for children, teens and adults.
During the last five years, Tomor has led the Museum through an ongoing $100 million capital campaign to renovate and expand the museum. The renovation is complete and has already transformed the museum experience. The expansion and fundraising efforts remain fully underway and unchanged, creating an iconic riverfront museum designed by New York-based architects Weiss/Manfredi.
“Michael has been the right leader at the right time for the Tampa Museum of Art,” said Cornelia Corbett, Director Emerita and co-chair of the Centennial Capital Campaign. “Thanks to his leadership, our museum is well-positioned as a striking community asset for future generations.”
TAMPA, FL — March 10, 2026 — The Tampa Museum of Art (TMA) and the Baruj Salinas Legacy Estate (BSLE) are proud to announce the donation and formal acceptance of Penca, a significant original work by the late Baruj Salinas (1935–2024), into the Museum’s permanent collection. Drawn from the artist’s personal collection, the 30 x 46-inch acrylic on canvas work was executed just a year after Salinas returned to the United States from Europe, and captures several profound themes, with poignant symbolism through color and form. The donation marks a pivotal addition to TMA’s holdings and a defining moment in the continued stewardship of Salinas’ international legacy.
Widely regarded as one of the most significant Cuban and Latin American artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, Salinas achieved international prominence for his singular approach to abstraction, pioneered with his Language of the Clouds series, and would transcend geographic and cultural boundaries. A renowned and award-winning contemporary artist, Salinas held more than 100 solo exhibitions across over 20 countries during a career spanning more than six decades. He decisively contributed to Miami’s rise as an international art hub and influenced multiple generations of artists.
The acceptance of Penca is especially notable as it marks Salinas’ first entry into a museum’s permanent collection since his passing in 2024. This milestone signals a new chapter in the flourishing of his legacy.
Joanna Robotham, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Tampa Museum of Art, notes that Salinas’ painting reflects the institution’s growing collection of art from the Caribbean, particularly Cuba. “Penca reflects the emotional depth and poetic symbolism that define his work, while also speaking to larger themes of migration, memory, and identity that resonate across cultures. Adding this work to the Tampa Museum of Art’s permanent collection strengthens our ability to share the story of the Cuban diaspora and the global impact of artists who have shaped the visual language of contemporary art.”
Baruj Salinas (1935–2024), Penca, 1993. Acrylic on canvas, 30 x 46 inches. Tampa Museum of Art. Gift of the Baruj Salinas Legacy Estate, in commemoration of the artistic contributions of Baruj Salinas.
A Pivotal Work from a Defining Series
Penca belongs to Salinas’ celebrated Penca de Palma Triste (Leaf of a Sad Palm) series, one of the most notable bodies of work exhibited and published in his oeuvre. Initiated in the late 1980s, during the final years of Salinas’ Barcelona period, the series explores exile, diaspora, and memory. It reflects both a political lament for Cuba and a deeply personal meditation on displacement and longing.
Salinas described the series as “a way for me to remember and express my feelings about what has been happening in Cuba,” noting that it symbolized “the tragedy and suffering of Cuba.” By isolating the branch of the palm—the penca—rather than depicting the entire tree, he invoked one of Cuba’s most archetypal symbols, while rendering it fragmented, echoing the ruptures of exile.
“In Miami,” Salinas once recalled, “I experienced a deeper sense of nostalgia.” In this transitional body of work, he shifted from the grays and atmospheric mists of his Barcelona period toward a renewed embrace of saturated, emotive color upon his return to the United States in 1992. The palm leaf becomes both image and metaphor—at once discernible and abstracted, suggestive of waterfalls, exotic plumage, or pure gesture. As Salinas observed, “The interpretation falls in the hands of the observer.”
The theme of diaspora carried layered meaning for Salinas, as both a Cuban exile and a member of the Jewish faith. His family’s migration—from Turkey to Marseilles, and eventually to Cuba—placed them within a longer history of Jewish displacement. “Being a Cuban Jew only emphasized my feeling of displacement,” he reflected, underscoring the series’ universal resonance to all diasporic communities.
Works from Penca de Palma Triste have been sold at Christie’s New York and acquired by major institutions, most notably the Art Institute of Chicago, which holds an early work from the series dating to 1988 in its permanent collection. The series has also been exhibited internationally, including at the Musée d’art contemporain de Baie-Saint-Paul in Quebec, as well as referenced by Salinas in interviews, and analyzed in several books, including Identity, Memory, and Diaspora (2008), Cuban-American Literature and Art (2009), and Cuban Artists Across the Diaspora (2011).
A Singular Institution, A Touchstone Collection
The Tampa Museum of Art represented a compelling and formidable opportunity to serve as the Estate’s first museum recipient.
Established in 1920, TMA stands among the foremost cultural institutions in Florida, serving the rapidly expanding Tampa Bay economic and arts corridor. Guided by its Centennial Campaign for Renovation and Expansion, the Museum plans to more than double its building and expand galleries and learning spaces. This growth makes it a fitting steward for the work.
In recent years, TMA has strengthened its holdings of contemporary Cuban art, including the acquisition of Josignacio’s The Pact, 2015, commemorating the historic “Cuban Thaw” between the United States and Cuba—an acquisition that also acknowledges Tampa’s deep links to Cuban heritage, particularly in nearby Ybor City, which had been visited by Cuban national hero José Martí during the lead-up to Cuban independence from Spain.
With the addition of Penca, Salinas now joins a distinguished roster of artists represented in the Tampa Museum of Art’s Latin American collection, including Diego Rivera, Fernando Botero, Josignacio, José Bedia, AGalban, and contemporary American art giants such as Andy Warhol, James Rosenquist, Robert Rauschenberg, Cindy Sherman, as well as Salinas’ contemporaries and close acquaintances Alexander Calder and Rufino Tamayo.
“We’re honored to welcome Penca into the permanent collection. Baruj Salinas’ work represents an important chapter in the story of modern and contemporary art in the Americas, and this generous gift allows us to preserve and share that legacy with our community,” said Dr. Michael Tomor, the Penny and Jeff Vinik Executive Director of the Tampa Museum of Art. “As I prepare to conclude my tenure at the Museum, I am especially proud to see our collection continue to grow in ways that reflect both the richness of our region’s cultural heritage and the global conversations that shape the future of art.”
Salinas Enduring Global Legacy
Salinas’ work is held in the permanent collections of leading cultural institutions, including the Art Institute of Chicago; the Art Museum of the Americas in Washington, D.C.; El Museo del Barrio in New York City; and the Joan Miró Foundation Centre in Barcelona.
As the co-founder of the Grupo GALA—the first documented association of Latin American artists in Florida—and a contributor to the earliest Cuban art galleries in the United States, including the Permuy Gallery and Bacardi Gallery, Salinas was a key figure in the establishment of the now-renowned Miami art scene. He was also closely affiliated with major figures of international Modernism, including Joan Miró, Marc Chagall, Alexander Calder, Rufino Tamayo, and Wifredo Lam.
In 2017, he reached a historic milestone when he was commissioned to create original works for The Torah Project book, later presented ceremonially to heads of state, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, and the monarchs of Spain and Sweden. On February 23, 2017, the first copy of the book was presented to Pope Francis at the Vatican. In an unprecedented moment, Francis undertook the first-ever blessing of a Jewish text by a Pope, and accepted five original works by Salinas into the Vatican’s permanent collection, with Salinas in attendance during the ceremony.
Since his passing, his legacy has continued to grow with major recognitions. The City of Coral Gables declared “Baruj Salinas Day” during its centennial year in 2025, honoring him as one of its greatest cultural treasures and citing his enduring global impact. His work was also recently added to the permanent collection of the Nova Southeastern University Alvin Sherman Library, one of the largest libraries in the state of Florida, whose collection includes original works by Salvador Dalí, Peter Max, and Dale Chihuly.
“Penca exemplifies Baruj Salinas’ distinctive approach to abstraction — defined by nuance, subtlety, ambiguity, and a refined, atmospheric use of color. As such, the work moves fluidly between figuration and abstraction, using shifting focus and graduated clarity to invite sustained viewing. While the palm leaf is discernible, its rendering remains open enough to allow for interpretation — a hallmark of Salinas’ work, where image and atmosphere coexist in elegant yet dynamic tension.
“This piece also marks a pivotal moment in his life and career: his return to Miami, a homecoming layered with personal and cultural resonance. From that point forward, he would continue shaping and transforming the artistic landscape around him and achieve new heights with his work. So it’s only fitting that this piece would go on to mark a new era for his legacy as well. We are thrilled at the BSLE to see it join the Tampa Museum of Art’s prestigious collection, and recognize that the donation clearly affirms Salinas’ longevity as an impactful force in the arts even in death.”
— Antonio Permuy, Curator, Baruj Salinas Legacy Estate (BSLE)
With the donation of Penca, the Tampa Museum of Art expands its permanent collection with a seminal work by a defining artist of the Cuban diaspora, reinforces its position as one of Florida’s leading art institutions, and reaffirms its commitment to acquiring works of enduring historical, aesthetic, and cultural significance.
Artwork Image and Credit Line:
Baruj Salinas (1935–2024), Penca, 1993. Acrylic on canvas, 30 x 46 inches. Tampa Museum of Art. Gift of the Baruj Salinas Legacy Estate, in commemoration of the artistic contributions of Baruj Salinas.
Aerial rendering of the Tampa Museum of Art’s future campus. The new museum expansion and dual dog parks are designed to coexist as active and accessible public spaces.
TAMPA Fla. – The Tampa Museum of Art, alongside the City of Tampa, welcomed city leaders and downtown stakeholders today to celebrate the first visible steps toward its Centennial Expansion project, as construction crews have completed relocating the Tampa Dog Run at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park to make room for the museum’s new footprint.
Museum Executive Director Michael Tomor speaks at a press conference at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park highlighting progress on the Tampa Museum of Art Centennial Expansion.
“Seeing the open footprint for the expansion fills our whole team with renewed excitement for what this project will bring,” said Michael Tomor, the Penny and Jeff Vinik Executive Director of the Tampa Museum of Art. “We are so pleased that the dog park relocation project was able to achieve two important outcomes: making the park a more accessible amenity for downtown residents, and laying the groundwork for a future where an expanded Tampa Museum of Art can serve more people, present more ambitious programming, and strengthen Tampa’s position as a leading arts destination.”
The New York-based design team of WEISS/MANFREDI Architecture/Landscape/Urbanism, which is designing the Museum’s expansion, was also responsible for the design of another urban dog park, Hunter’s Point South Waterfront Park in New York City.
“We are one step closer to building a Museum that reflects the creativity, energy, and generosity that can be found in Tampa,” said Cornelia Corbett, Campaign Co-Chairwoman. “The newly cleared footprint is an exciting milestone because it turns years of planning and collective commitment into reality. We are determined to build a world-class Museum that will be accessible, welcoming, and vibrant for generations of visitors to come.”
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor speaks at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park during a press conference marking progress on the Tampa Museum of Art Centennial Expansion.
The Tampa Museum of Art’s expansion plans were announced in November 2021. The Museum is funding the ambitious 77,904-square-foot expansion project through its ongoing Centennial Campaign, a comprehensive construction and endowment effort anchored by a $28 million lead gift from Dick Corbett, a Tampa real estate developer and philanthropist who has been a Museum patron for decades. His lead gift is the single largest private donation ever made to a public art museum in Florida.
To date, more than $100 million in generous support has been provided by individuals, families and corporations, as well as the City of Tampa, Hillsborough County, and the State of Florida.
The Tampa Museum of Art’s Centennial Expansion is moving forward as a phased project. The Museum is now focused on site preparations, fundraising, and construction planning before announcing a groundbreaking celebration. The campaign’s fundraising efforts will continue during construction.
The expansion will transform the Museum into a vibrant hub of art and culture. Designed as a crystalline pier extending the museum to the edge of the river, the new expansion will create a series of interconnected multifunctional spaces. The new addition will include a 150-seat auditorium, an art lounge, food services and dining space, a large event space, and a proposed rooftop space, all of which will provide flexible settings for a wide range of art and cultural programming. The expansion will also feature new outdoor sculpture areas, bringing art to the redeveloped public spaces along Curtis Hixon Park and the Tampa Riverwalk. The project is managed by Ellison Advisors. The construction manager is the Beck Group.
TAMPA Fla. – After 40 years working at and leading art museums, including just over a decade at the helm of the Tampa Museum of Art, Michael Tomor has made the decision to retire as the Penny and Jeff Vinik Executive Director effective March 31, 2026. Tomor will continue to serve fully in his role through that date.
During his tenure in Tampa, Tomor has boldly led the Tampa Museum of Art into the future by acquiring 1,500 new objects for the museum’s permanent collection, dramatically increasing student and community outreach, and completing a massive renovation which added 32,000 square feet of exhibition spaces in four promenades and 12 new galleries.
“It has been my great honor to serve as the Penny & Jeff Vinik Executive Director of the Tampa Museum of Art since 2015,” said Tomor. “This last decade has been one of great advancements for the institution, and I’m proud of the incredible work we have accomplished as a team and as a community.”
Tomor has been in the museum business for 40 years, the last 25 years as a museum director. He says the time has come to embrace retirement, and while Tomor and his husband will remain in Tampa, they plan to spend additional time with family in Texas and Pennsylvania.
“Michael leaves a tremendous legacy behind here at the Tampa Museum of Art, with a staggering list of accomplishments in this past decade,” said Ron Christaldi, Chair of the Tampa Museum of Art Board of Trustees. “His impact can be felt throughout our museum – he has expanded our art collections, strengthened our financial foundation, grown the museum’s reach in the community, and advanced the bold vision for our expansion.”
Over the last five years, Tomor has led the museum through an ongoing $100 million capital campaign to renovate and expand the museum. The renovation is complete and has already transformed the museum experience. The expansion and fundraising efforts remain fully underway and unchanged, creating an iconic riverfront museum designed by New York-based architects Weiss/Manfredi.
“Michael has been the right leader at the right time for the Tampa Museum of Art,” said Cornelia Corbett, Director Emerita and co-chair of the Centennial Capital Campaign. “Thanks to his leadership, our museum is well-positioned as a striking community asset for future generations.”
The museum board is establishing a search committee to lead a national search for the Museum’s next Executive Director. The committee will be led by Ron Christaldi and Christine Phillips, president of the Tampa Museum of Art Foundation Board. A professional search firm will be engaged to support the process.
“As we search for our new director, we are looking for someone who can build on the momentum we have here at the Tampa Museum of Art,” said Phillips. “We are committed to finding another visionary leader for our museum who can lead us into our next chapter.”
The Tampa Museum of Art highlighted Studio 55, a creative aging initiative that supports adults age fifty-five and older through hands-on artmaking and social connection. As part of the museum’s commitment to accessible and meaningful lifelong learning, Studio 55 offers classes, workshops, and open studio hours that encourage creative exploration while supporting cognitive and social well-being. Made possible through the support of E.A. Michelson Philanthropy, the program is offered both at the museum and in partnership with public libraries across Tampa Bay, expanding access to welcoming, low-pressure art experiences throughout the region. Information on upcoming Studio 55 opportunities is available on the museum’s website.
Newly named TECO Education Lobby to welcome thousands of students, families, and community visitors each year.
Tampa Electric representatives along with Tampa Museum of Art board members and staff point to the new sign marking the TECO Education Lobby during the dedication ceremony at the Tampa Museum of Art. Photography by Paige Boscia.
Tampa, FL (September 25, 2025)—The Tampa Museum of Art has named its lobby in the education center the TECO Education Lobby, honoring Tampa Electric’s continued investment in arts education and its support of the Museum’s Centennial Campaign for Renovation and Expansion.
This naming recognizes Tampa Electric’s long-standing commitment to advancing arts access for students and families across the region. Each year, more than 24,000 individuals—from school children on guided tours to families attending weekend programs—will begin their learning experience in the newly named lobby, which serves as the entrance to the Museum’s Vinik Family Education Center.
Michael Tomor gives remarks at the TECO Education Lobby Dedication at the Tampa Museum of Art. Photography by Paige Boscia.
“Tampa Electric’s partnership helps us expand opportunities for the community to connect with art in ways that foster creativity, confidence, and emotional well-being,” said Michael Tomor, Ph.D., the Penny and Jeff Vinik Executive Director of the Tampa Museum of Art. “We are proud to recognize TECO’s investment in education as we grow our facilities and programs to meet the needs of Tampa Bay’s next generation.”
The TECO Education Lobby is part of the Museum’s multi-year Centennial Campaign to grow its downtown campus and serve more visitors. Completed in 2022, the Vinik Family Education Center encompasses over 8,000 square feet of classroom and program space, and offers a setting for year-round studio art courses, early childhood learning, guided school visits, and comprehensive programs for all ages and abilities.
Carlos Aldazabal gives remarks at the TECO Education Lobby Dedication at the Tampa Museum of Art. Photography by Paige Boscia.
“Tampa Electric takes great pride in our enduring commitment to education,” said Carlos Aldazabal, vice president of Energy Supply for Tampa Electric. “We’re thrilled to support the Tampa Museum of Art in its mission to enrich lives through the power of art. This partnership opens the door to inspiring experiences for children and families, while championing creativity as a vital force in our community.”
Tampa Electric’s support of the Centennial Campaign comes from shareholder funds and does not affect customer bills. It builds on a long history of meaningful community partnerships across the Tampa Bay region. At the Museum, this contribution ensures that children can explore art through hands-on projects, students can connect classroom learning with visual culture, and families can participate in programs that encourage discussion and self-expression.
The Museum hosted a private celebration to unveil the TECO Education Lobby on September 24th, allowing guests to see educational programming in action and experience firsthand the impact of this partnership.
To learn more about the Tampa Museum of Art’s Centennial Campaign for Renovation and Expansion, visit Centennial.TampaMuseum.org.
View from the Hillsborough River looking toward the dog park site and Tampa’s cultural core. The reimagined greenspace enhances public use and complements the Museum’s expansion footprint.
Aerial rendering of the Tampa Museum of Art’s future campus. The new museum expansion and dual dog parks are designed to coexist as active and accessible public spaces.
TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Museum of Art takes the first visible steps toward its Centennial Expansion project, initiating site changes to prepare for the expanded TMA campus. This August, crews will begin relocating the Tampa Dog Run at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park to make room for the museum’s new footprint, with full construction on the museum’s expansion to start in the fall. A formal ground-breaking celebration is planned for early 2026.
“This marks an important milestone in our Centennial Expansion,” said Michael Tomor, the Penny and Jeff Vinik Executive Director at the Tampa Museum of Art. “It opens the way for the physical groundwork to begin for inviting spaces that reflect our city’s interest in the arts and support meaningful cultural experiences.”
Rendering of the large dog park, featuring ample open space, shade elements, and playful structures designed for energetic pups and their companions.
Designed with comfort and safety in mind, the small dog park offers a welcoming and shaded area tailored to Tampa’s littlest four-legged residents.
Construction of the new dog parks will take approximately four to five months and is expected to conclude in late 2025. The new parks will feature separate spaces for small dogs and large dogs, and no closure of the existing dog park is anticipated until the new, dual dog parks between Curtis Hixon Park and Kiley Gardens open. The new location and larger square footage will make the dog parks a more accessible amenity to the growing number of downtown residents. The New York-based design team of WEISS/MANFREDI Architecture/Landscape/Urbanism, which is designing the Museum’s expansion, was also responsible for the design of another urban dog park, Hunter’s Point South Waterfront Park in New York City.
Tampa Museum of Art expansion rendering night time view from the Hillsborough River.
The Tampa Museum of Art’s expansion was announced in November 2021 and is managed by The Beck Group. The Museum is funding the ambitious 77,904-square-foot expansion project through its ongoing Centennial Campaign, a comprehensive construction and endowment effort anchored by a $28 million lead gift from Dick Corbett, a Tampa real estate developer and philanthropist who has been a Museum patron for decades. His lead gift is the single largest private donation ever made to a public art museum in Florida.
To date, more than $100 million in generous support has been provided by individuals, families and corporations, as well as the City of Tampa, Hillsborough County, and the State of Florida. The campaign’s fundraising efforts will continue during construction, including naming opportunities for the relocated dog park.
“I have been involved for many years with the Tampa Museum of Art, and it is amazingly rewarding to take this step toward breaking ground on the expansion,” said Cornelia Corbett, Campaign Chairwoman. “Our Centennial Campaign has focused solely on the future of the Museum in service to the Tampa Bay community. The construction of the dog park is the first step to bringing the dream of a world-class Museum to Tampa.”
The expansion will transform the Museum into a vibrant hub of art and culture. Designed as a crystalline pier extending the museum to the edge of the river, the new expansion will create a series of interconnected multifunctional spaces. The new addition will include a 150-seat auditorium, an art lounge, food services and dining space, a large event space, and a proposed rooftop space, all of which will provide flexible settings for a wide range of art and cultural programming. The expansion will also feature new outdoor sculpture areas, bringing art to the redeveloped public spaces along Curtis Hixon Park and the Tampa Riverwalk.
The new Dog Park construction will not affect access to the Riverwalk or the City of Tampa Parks office, and public restrooms will remain available.
Architectural rendering from above Ashley Drive reveals the layout and landscape features of the future dog parks, thoughtfully integrated into the city’s River Arts District.
Future dog park site as viewed from Ashley Drive. This new location will offer easier access for pedestrians and visitors from downtown.
Aerial view showing the future site of the dual dog parks at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. The new design improves access and offers more space for downtown Tampa’s growing pet-friendly community.
About WEISS/MANFREDI Architecture/Landscape/Urbanism
WEISS/MANFREDI Architecture/Landscape/Urbanism is a multidisciplinary design practice based in New York City. Founded by Marion Weiss and Michael Manfredi, the firm is known for the dynamic integration of architecture, art, infrastructure, and landscape design. The firm is well known for the Seattle Art Museum’s celebrated Olympic Sculpture Park, the Women’s Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Visitor Center and Overlook, and Hunter’s Point South Waterfront Park. Current projects include the United States Embassy in New Delhi, India, the La Brea Tar Pits and museum in Los Angeles, and Lincoln Center’s new outdoor theater in New York City. Most recently, the firm won the international competition for the addition and renovation to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri, which attracted submissions from over 180 firms from thirty countries on six continents.
Marion Weiss and Michael Manfredi are recipients of the 2024 Louis I. Kahn Award in Architecture, the 2020 Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medal in Architecture, the Cooper Hewitt National Design Award for Architecture, the American Academy of Arts and Letters Award in Architecture, and the Architectural League of New York’s “Emerging Voices” award. The firm has also been honored with the New York AIA Gold Medal and the Tau Sigma Delta Gold Medal, awarded to one individual or firm in the world each year. The firm’s projects have been featured in exhibitions at the Venice Architectural Biennale, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the São Paulo Biennale of International Architecture and Design, the Shanghai Biennale, the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Museum, the National Building Museum, Harvard University, the Landscape Architecture Biennale in Barcelona, the Design Centre in Essen, Germany, and the Guggenheim Museum. Weiss and Manfredi’s work is in the permanent collection of MoMA, the Seattle Art Museum, the Library of Congress, and the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Museum. Princeton Architectural Press has published three monographs on their work including their most recent book, PUBLIC NATURES. Park Books published their fifth monograph DRIFTING SYMMETRIES in winter 2025.
A Free, Family-Friendly Event Featuring Music, Art, and Cultural Experiences.
Tampa, FL — The Tampa Museum of Art invites the community to commemorate Juneteenth with a vibrant day of art, music, culture, and connection during its fourth annual Juneteenth Cultural Celebration, happening Saturday, June 14. Admission is free.
Presented by Santander US, this joyful celebration of freedom and resilience offers a dynamic lineup of activities for all ages. Guests will enjoy drop-in art-making stations, live performances, guided tours, and more, all set against the backdrop of the Museum’s galleries and terrace.
Highlights of the day include:
Galleries open from 10 am to 5 pm with free admission.
Art-making activities from 11 am to 4 pm, inspired by current exhibitions
Welcome remarks and reading of the Emancipation Proclamation at noon
Live DJ set by DJ Spaceship to energize the celebration
Guided gallery tours focusing on artwork by Black and African American artists
Jazz & blues performance on the terrace from 1–2 pm
Curator-led tour of Under the Spell of the Palm Tree at 2 pm
Interactive drum circle and dance workshop from 2:30–3:45 pm
Food trucks on Gasparilla Plaza, including Mr. B’s Southern Cuisine and the Tampa Snow Shaved Ice. The first 300 guests at Tampa Show Shaved Ice will receive a free snow cone.
Vendor showcase with local artists and artisans, an excellent spot to pick up a give for Father’s Day.
“This celebration is a reflection of the Museum’s commitment to honoring our nation’s history and providing a welcoming space for the entire community,” said Michael Tomor, Ph.D., Penny and Jeff Vinik Executive Director of the Tampa Museum of Art.
Visitors are encouraged to reserve their free tickets in advance at TampaMuseum.org/Juneteenth and consider making a donation or signing up to volunteer.
“Romeo, Romeo—or Juliet, Juliet—wherefore art thou?”
Tampa, FL – At the 19th annual Pride & Passion, love takes center stage in all its dazzling forms. The Tampa Museum of Art invites the community to Pride & Passion: Timeless Tragedy, a night of forbidden elegance and Shakespearean splendor, on Saturday, May 31, 2025.
Each year, Pride & Passion transforms the Museum into a vibrant celebration of LGBTQ+ culture, art, and community. This year, guests will step into a Renaissance-inspired world filled with theatrical performances, themed cocktails, decadent hors d’oeuvres from LGBTQ+-friendly vendors, and a night of revelry that will be remembered.
Co-chairs Nicholas Buchanan and Lindsey Allen invite guests to join in the celebration and support a vital cause. “Pride & Passion is more than a party—it’s an extraordinary chance to honor the vibrant LGBTQ+ community while directly funding programs that make art accessible and healing for all,” says Buchanan.
“The love we celebrate at Pride & Passion is the same love that drives change in our community,” adds Allen. Every ticket and sponsorship contributes to creating safe and inclusive spaces and programs at the Tampa Museum of Art for those who need them most.
Pride & Passion is a signature fundraiser for the Tampa Museum of Art, raising essential funds for its two impactful art and mental health programs:
Art Space: Established in 1994, this program provides hands-on art engagement for youth in foster care, domestic violence shelters, and mental healthcare environments. Through art-making and therapy-informed activities, participants find creative expression and emotional support.
Connections: Designed for teens and adults, Connections offers facilitated gallery discussions for individuals facing challenges such as Alzheimer’s, PTSD, depression, substance use disorder, and neurodiversity. By using art as a tool for reflection and dialogue, the program fosters connection and healing.
Presenting Sponsor TMS of South Tampa returns for another year of generous support, ensuring that Pride & Passion continues to uplift and empower the Tampa Bay community through art.
The exhibition showcases over 80 works by more than 50 Cuban artists, exploring the island’s cultural heartbeat and artistic heritage.
Tampa, FL — The Tampa Museum of Art, in collaboration with The Cuban Arts Group, is pleased to announce the opening of Under the Spell of the Palm Tree: The Rice Collection of Cuban Art, on view from February 6 through July 6, 2025. This exhibition highlights the multifaceted narrative of Cuban art, spanning decades of modern and contemporary creativity. Visitors will discover more than 80 paintings, drawings, photographs, prints, mixed media, art books, and sculptures by over 50 artists, illustrating the vibrancy and resilience of the Cuban artistic spirit.
Organized into six themed sections, Under the Spell of the Palm Tree offers an immersive journey through the cultural, historical, and aesthetic dimensions that have shaped Cuban art:
The Language of Forms and the Forms of Language – Early modernist works from the late 1940s demonstrating abstraction’s role in Cuban artistic development.
The Prophet’s Dream – Art that arose from social and political consciousness, reflecting the dynamic identity emerging after the Cuban Revolution.
The Great Journey – Pieces that poignantly convey themes of exile, displacement, and the enduring connection to Cuba.
The Sensory Landscapes of Memory and Desire – Works infused with hedonism, whimsy, and intimate reflections on memory and longing.
The Musings of Narcissus – A focus on self-representation, philosophy, and personal exploration across a range of media.
The Spirit of the Real, the Reality of the Spirit – Artworks steeped in Afro-Cuban spiritual traditions, mythology, and symbolism that blur the lines between the tangible and the ethereal.
Susie and Mitchell Rice began their journey as collectors in 2013, captivated by the island’s vibrant art scene. Over the last decade, the Rice Collection of Cuban Art has grown to encompass more than 70 artists, revealing a compelling intergenerational narrative that transcends borders. Their commitment to sharing Cuban art’s depth and richness with the public is central to this exhibition’s mission.
“We are delighted to bring Under the Spell of the Palm Tree to Tampa,” said Dr. Michael Tomor, the Penny and Jeff Vinik Executive Director of the Tampa Museum of Art. “Through this diverse selection of works, our visitors will be able to explore Cuban culture from various perspectives—historical, social, political, and deeply personal. We are honored to collaborate with The Cuban Arts Group and grateful to Susie and Mitchell Rice for making this remarkable collection accessible to our community.”
The Cuban Arts Group provides major support for the exhibition. Community sponsors include an anonymous foundation and Santander Bank. Generous donors who share the Tampa Museum of Art’s dedication to bringing important cultural narratives to the Tampa Bay region have provided additional support.
A full-color illustrated catalog accompanies the exhibition. It offers in-depth essays by Curators Gabriela Azcuy and David Horta, bringing further insights into the works on view. Throughout the run of Under the Spell of the Palm Tree, TMA will also host a range of educational programs, discussions, and community events, inviting audiences of all ages to discover the richness of Cuban art and engage with its historical and contemporary significance.
For more information about Under the Spell of the Palm Tree: The Rice Collection of Cuban Art and upcoming educational programs, visit tampamuseum.org or call (813) 274-8130.
About The Cuban Arts Group
Dedicated to enriching and strengthening cross-cultural connections through the arts of Cuba, The Cuban Arts Group, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, is a collaborative effort between those passionate about the arts, and history, from the U.S. and Cuba. Founded in 2015, the Cuban Arts Group builds on cultural evolution that has taken place—and continues to grow—both on the island and throughout the U.S. Cuban diaspora. The organization’s mission is to educate Americans about Cuban arts and culture through thoughtfully curated exhibitions and diverse educational arts programs including discussions, lectures, involving Cuban artists, art educators, curators, historians, and writers throughout. Learn more at thecubanartsgroup.org.
