Spotlight | A Contemporary Summer at The Ringling

By Tom Reese | Photos Courtesy of The Ringling | June 2024

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is widely known for its extensive European collection of art, but what many people are surprised to learn is that it also has dynamic and expansive exhibitions of contemporary art.

Contemporary art, specifically art created by living artists, can feature any medium, but typically pushes the boundaries of existing material and generally focuses on themes such as personal and cultural identity, family, community, and nationality.

This summer at The Ringling, you can experience four different thought-provoking contemporary art exhibitions featuring unique pieces made by artists from all over the world, including some from right here in the Tampa Bay region.

Shinique Smith:
Parade

Through January 5, 2025

Spanning across six of the Museum’s original galleries, the exhibition creates a series of stories that form an abstract narrative of the “parade” as a metaphor for life.

Smith, originally from Baltimore, now calls Los Angeles home. Through her participation in prestigious biennials and group exhibitions, her impressive portfolio has caught the eye of art enthusiasts. She has been honored with awards from renowned entities like Joan Mitchell, the Tiffany Foundation, Anonymous Was a Woman, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Her works have been displayed and collected by reputable institutions such as the Baltimore Museum of Art, Brooklyn Museum of Art, California African American Museum, Denver Art Museum, and others.

Well known for her monumental sculptures created from an array of materials including luxurious textiles, personal clothing, dyed fabrics, ribbon, and wood, and for her abstract paintings of calligraphy and collage, Smith’s work in this exhibition speaks to various facets of the European artistic tradition, such as classical drapery and religious iconography, while foregrounding notions of Black femininity and the history of the circus.

“My hope for this show is to create a bridge between differing depictions of people and the art histories that inform my hand, while celebrating the beauty found in our belongings and honoring the resilience and magnanimity of Black women,” says Smith.

Smith’s pieces showcased in the exhibition focus on the essence of femininity through the perspective of a female artist. Through her creations like Inflamed by Golden Hues of Love and Mitumba Deity II, Smith delves into her admiration for the well-defined curves and unwavering strength of Black women, depicted through elegantly shaped figures adorned and covered in gold.

The Ringling’s Chief Curator and Ulla R. Searing Curator of Collections Sarah Cartwright says, “We are so thrilled that Shinique Smith has chosen to present her work to Sarasota audiences within our European galleries, where it will provoke conversation and inspire new ways of seeing and understanding both historic and contemporary art. Shinique chose the works on view in response to The Ringling’s magnificent gallery spaces. The synergy between her work and our collections is palpable, and the Museum is full of unexpected moments of beauty and emotion.”

EMBODIED:
Highlights from The Ringling’s
Collection of Modern
and Contemporary Art

Through September 21, 2025

EMBODIED highlights representations of the human figure by some of the most exciting artists of the 20th and 21st centuries featured in The Ringling Collection of Modern and Contemporary Art.

The representation of the human form through art is one of the eldest forms of expression, offering a glimpse into our early history and its storytellers. In artistic works, the human body has long been a prevalent and enduring subject. EMBODIED expands on the definition of the human figure by bringing together diverse representations in painting, sculpture, fiber, video, and mixed media.

“We filter the world through our bodily experiences. We are very diverse, but we share so many similarities as human beings,” says Ola Wlusek, the Keith D. Monda Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art and curator of EMBODIED. “The opening line in EMBODIED talks about the figure being one of the oldest parts of iconography recorded. Bodies are, in a literal sense, very much rooted in identity politics throughout time and in the present moment.”

Standouts from the exhibition include mixed media work Still Life with Quilt and Drinking Gourds by William Villalongo, who merges tropes from the European still life painting tradition with elements from Black histories, pop culture, and mass media, and Time and Place: Egmont Key – Indian Territory – LA – Oklahoma, the first abstract painting by a contemporary Native American artist acquired by The Ringling.

“We are excited to have several newly acquired works on display together with other pieces in the museum’s contemporary collection,” Executive Director Steven High says. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to experience the collection through this fresh lens.”

Skyway 2024:
A Contemporary Collaboration

Through January 26, 2025

The highly anticipated Skyway 2024 exhibition is set to be showcased at five leading art institutions across the Tampa Bay area including: The Ringling; the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg; Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design; the Tampa Museum of Art; and the University of South Florida Contemporary Art Museum. 

While the dates of the exhibition at these locations vary throughout the summer, The Ringling debuts it first, and it’s available to view now until January 26, 2025. Each exhibition at each location is unique and features different artists and pieces. This is the third iteration of Skyway, with the last installment occurring in 2020/2021.

Curatorial teams from multiple museums joined forces to select the artworks featured in Skyway 2024, demonstrating a united effort to present the diverse talents within the region. In response to an open artist call from Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, and Sarasota counties, museum curators carefully assessed more than 300 submissions. Through this initiative, the creativity of local artists is highlighted, fostering a deeper bond between the community and contemporary art.

Christopher Jones, the Stanton B. and Nancy W. Kaplan Curator of Photography and Media Arts at The Ringling, joined forces with Ola Wlusek to co-curate The Ringling’s installment of Skyway 2024.

“There was a call to action that went out to artists in our region to submit proposals. We reviewed and ranked the applications and chose 63 artists or artist groups to include in the exhibition. This is an important project to bring together contemporary artists in our region and show how much the contemporary scene is thriving in our backyard,” said Christopher.

Skyway 2024: A Contemporary Collaboration goes beyond being just an exhibition—it serves as a tribute to artistic ingenuity and the collaborative nature within the Tampa Bay art community. This project promises to leave a lasting impact on the region by shining a spotlight on the artistic voices of the Florida Gulf Coast West Central Region and inspiring future generations of artists and art enthusiasts.

Radical Clay:
Contemporary Women
Artists From Japan

From July 27 through May 11, 2025

Radical Clay, an exhibition of 40 ceramic sculptures by 36 contemporary Japanese artists, all of whom happen to be women, will be on display in the Pavilion Gallery of the Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Center for Asian Art at The Ringling. The exhibition comes to The Ringling from the Art Institute of Chicago, where it was curated by Dr. Janice Katz, Roger L. Weston Associate Curator of Japanese Art. 

“As in other parts of the world, the ability of women in Japan to pursue artistic careers has historically been impeded by the burden of family responsibilities, access to training, notions of respectability, and lack of financial independence,” says Rhiannon Paget, Curator of Asian Art at The Ringling. “While they still face challenges, shifts in social norms and expectations following the Second World War have allowed women to participate more fully in and make significant contributions to ceramic art. This exhibition celebrates their achievements.” 

Radical Clay spans veterans of the field such as Tsuji Kyō, Mishima Kimiyo, and Tsuboi Asuka, to emerging younger artists such as Mori Aya and Kawaura Saki. Their artworks encompass a breathtaking range of styles, conceptual approaches, and techniques.These women have routinely confronted expectations about their practice and often refuse gender-imposed constraints in their work, approaching subjects in unconventional ways.

“There are so many strong contemporary women artists from Japan that are truly pushing the limits in ceramics and clay beyond what we’ve ever seen traditionally,” said Dr. Katz. “This show brings together artists on the cutting edge of invention in terms of materials, glaze, and technique, and we are thrilled to recognize their contributions to the global ceramics field.”

There is so much to enjoy at The Ringling.  From its varied exhibitions, classes and programs to its circus museum, beautiful gardens, and dining outlets, please spend some time at The Ringling this summer. For more information on all current exhibitions, events, and admission, please visit www.ringling.org.