The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Florida’s state art museum, has undergone a major renovation and recently opened the brand-new Ulla R. and Arthur F. Searing Wing, providing curators an extra 30,000 square feet with which to exhibit collections. The Towles Court Artist Colony, home to a pocket of whimsical, brightly colored galleries, offers one-of-a-kind paintings and sculptures in a close-knit downtown setting. And on Tallevast Road, mack b projects is taking the Sarasota art world by storm with its cutting-edge contemporary art and installations.

Visitors can also pop in and out of the row of galleries on Palm Avenue or peruse St. Armands Circle’s oeuvre of artwork (don’t forget to check out the circle’s statues, sights to be seen in their own right). The Ringling College of Art and Design, one of the top art schools in the country, presents shows at Selby Gallery, and the school’s students and their creations enliven the local arts scene.

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.

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.

Canvas Cafe, 1912 Adams Lane. 957-0609. Contemporary art from emerging local and national artists.

Chasen Reed, 10 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota. 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.

Greene Contemporary, 556 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota. 365-9406. Contemporary artists and the estate of Syd Solomon.

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.

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.

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

Modern Times Gallery, 1962 Main St. 365-2800. Internationally known collections with a historical slant.

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 Adams Lane, Sarasota. 928-6490. 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; 201 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. 387-7395; 26 N. Boulevard of the Presidents, St. Armands Circle. 388-2827; 7480 Cortez Road W., Bradenton. 794-2540. 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

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

Rodin International, 18 S. Boulevard of Presidents, St. Armands. 388-2221. Specializing in painting and sculpture from the 15th through 20th centuries.

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

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.

Mack b projects, 500 Tallevast Road, Suite 107, Sarasota. 359-0654. Contemporary, experimental art and installation.

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.

Uptown Framers, 1058 N. Tamiami Trail, #104, Sarasota. 953-4141.

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.