Art Galleries

Art, it seems, is everywhere, including at restaurants like Sasse's and Liquid Café in Fort Myers, where the show comes free with a meal or a drink.

The region's newest and grandest showcase, the Naples Museum of Art, is also its most extensive, with multiple galleries holding a variety of exhibits, including traveling shows. Next door, the Philharmonic Center for the Arts has gallery shows as well. Both Florida Gulf Coast University and Edison College operate galleries with rotating shows.

Area art leagues stage exhibits at their own galleries in the von Liebig Center in Naples, the Alliance for the Arts and the nearby Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre in Fort Myers.

There are clusters of galleries throughout the Gulfshore, from the eclectic community in Matlacha on Pine Island, to those on Sanibel Island and throughout Old Naples.

Sure, there are plenty of seascapes, pastel triptychs and sunsets on display. But glass sculpture, jewelry, portraiture, painted furniture and lots of other media are available as well.

Occasionally, Captiva Island resident Robert Rauschenberg allows some of his renowned works to be displayed locally.

BONITA SPRINGS

Art League of Bonita Springs, 26100 Old 41, (941) 495-3999. Provides a cultural heart and identity to the community by conducting a variety of art classes and exhibitions. Lectures, instruction and summer camps revolving around the arts available.

The Waterfront Gallery, 26251 Tamiami Trail S., (941) 947-4433. Artwork ranges from originals to posters and everything in between. 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

Tilting at Windmills Gallery, 27180 Bay Landing Drive, Suite 4, on U.S. 41 across from Bonita Bay, (941) 498-3368. Featuring world-renowned national and international artists including fine art jade sculpture by Lyle Sopel, Florida landscapes by Peter Pettegrew and contemporary impressionism by Sang Lee. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

CAPE CORAL

Cape Coral Arts Studio, 4533 Coronado Parkway, (941) 574-0802. Fine arts and fine crafts classes and workshops in various mediums year round. Glass center. Clay program is largest in Southwest Florida. Fine arts gallery exhibits change monthly. Arts supply store and gift shop. Hours vary depending on class schedule.

CAPTIVA ISLAND

Artist's Gallery, 3345 West Gulf Drive, (941) 395-2108. Fine art and jewelry. Classes, special exhibits, framing. Seasonal hours.

Jungle Drums Gallery, 11532 Andy Rosse Lane, (941) 395-2266. Diverse works and prices. More than 7,000 pieces of art by 200 artists capture a variety of animals in bronze, wood, glass, clay, jewelry, books and paintings. Special exhibits. Framing available. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, closed Sunday. www.jungledrumsgallery.com.

FORT MYERS

Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd., (941) 939-2787. Monthly exhibits have included landscape paintings, Florida juried 2D/3D and "Art in the Schools," which features students' artwork. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

American Art Glass Gallery, 13499 U.S. 41 S.E., Suite 100, (941) 433-4700. Located at the Mole Hole in the Bell Tower Shops, the gallery features a mixture of contemporary artwork. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Art League of Fort Myers, 10051 McGregor Blvd., (941) 275-3970. Features the works of members, local teachers and a Pageant of Lights exhibit during the year. Offers a famous artists workshop series, outdoor art and craft shows. Call for hours.

Edison College's Gallery of Fine Arts (in Humanities Hall), 8099 College Parkway, (941) 489-9313. Exhibits the works of local artists, students and nationally known artists. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Frizzell Gallery of Fine Art, (941) 489-2787. Oils, acrylics, watercolor, sculpture and glass. Classes, special exhibits and framing. Seasonal hours.

National Wildlife Gallery, 11000 Metro Parkway, Suite 33, (941) 939-2425. Wildlife and landscape art from Florida and national artists. More than 5,000 prints in stock. Special exhibits. Framing available. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. www.artfinders.com.

Island Gallery and Boutique, 6151 Estero Blvd., Suite 5, (941) 463-7100. Features the largest paintings in Southwest Florida. The 40-by-60 inch acrylic paintings are done by local artists. Call for an appointment.

Thomas Kinkade Spring Gate, 13499 U.S. 41 S.E., Suite 121, (941) 415-7000. Thomas Kinkade, known as the "painter of light," houses his oil paintings in this gallery. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

MARCO ISLAND

Art League of Marco Island, 1010 Winterberry Drive, (941) 394-4221. Fine art gallery with gift shop. Classes/instruction, lectures and special exhibits. Seasonal hours. www.marcoislandart.com.

Kennedy Studios, 599 S. Collier Blvd., Suite 301, (941) 394-0409. Fine limited edition prints, serigraphs, museum prints and lithographs. Representing nationally and locally known artists. Classes, special exhibits and framing. Seasonal hours.

Saran Carved Glass Gallery, 9 Front St., (941) 642-7101. Featured in Gulfshore Life's annual source directory as the best carved-glass sculptor in Southwest Florida. Special exhibits; noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday.

NAPLES

Arsenault Gallery, 285 Broad Ave. S., (941) 263-1214. Paintings of Naples and other favorite places by Paul Arsenault. Old Naples studio open by appointment only.

Bondstreet Gallery, 870 Sixth Ave. S., (941) 430-0039. Fine American and European paintings, drawings, sculpture and prints are housed in the gallery. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

Calusa Gallery, 2460 Vanderbilt Beach Road E., (941) 594-3888. Originals by local artists, limited edition lithographs, golf art, photography, ceramics reflecting the natural beauty of Southwest Florida. Handmade home decor and custom framing. Special exhibits 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and by appointment.

Canfield, Brown and Associates Inc., 1010 Central Ave., (941) 434-7733. Contemporary fine art featuring the abstract paintings of G.T. Burke. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Caribbean Gallery, 784 12th Ave. S., (941) 435-0405. Specializing in fine quality Haitian art, including paintings and metal sculpture by a variety of prominent artists, and an exceptional assortment of sequined Vodou flags and spirit bottles. Also featuring Caribbean-style art and furniture by award-winning American artists. Lectures, special exhibits, art tours. 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Call for extended hours in season.

Cobwebs & Chameleons Art Gallery, 11985 Tamiami Trail N., Suite B, (941) 254-9019. Original artwork, sculpture, three-dimensional art, original oil paintings focusing on Florida artists. Featuring Klaus Strubel, Richard Disque and Nick Lambert. Custom framing. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

The Darvish Collection Gallery of Fine Arts, 1199 Third St. S., (941) 261-7581. Representing more than 40 artists from around the world, with paintings from the 15th to 20th century in seven elegant exhibition rooms. Classes, special exhibits, framing. Seasonal hours.

DeBruyne Fine Art, 275 Broad Ave. S. on Gallery Row, (941) 262-4551. Impressionist paintings from the 19th century to the present. Hand-turned wood, marble sculpture, bronze and steel sculpture. Newly remodeled, formerly Naples Art Gallery. Special exhibits. Seasonal hours.

The Dexter Gallery, 707 12th Ave. S., (941) 262-5446. Showcasing paintings of Naples artist Richard Dexter, the gallery features canvases of areas of interest in Naples, as well as work Dexter has created in travel. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

Echoes of Africa, 376 13th Ave. S., (941) 434-9200. Among the numerous African artworks are artifacts, rugs, beadwork and masks. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, during season Nov. 1-May 31. During off-season, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday.

Eckert Fine Art, 390 12th Ave. S., (941) 261-1100. Specializing in Impressionist, modern and contemporary art. Estab-lished in 1973, the gallery features the work of renowned artists Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Mary Cassatt, Alexander Archipenko, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg, Darryl Pottorf and Don Gummer. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday. eckertfineart@mindspring.com.

Edward Koehler the fish sculptor, 1400 Shadowlawn Drive, (941) 774-3880. Mosaic tile benches, exotic marine and many outdoor animal sculptures. By appointment.

Four Winds Gallery, 340 13th Ave. S., (941) 263-7555. In its 20th season, the gallery is recognized for exceptional American Indian art and jewelry. Featuring the finest quality gold and silver jewelry by award-winning Native American artists. Masterworks of art and sculpture, basketry, pottery and weavings of historic, traditional and contemporary nature. Lectures, special exhibits. Seasonal hours and by appointment.

Gallery Matisse, 1170 Third St. S. in The Plaza, (941) 649-7114. Impressionist and classical paintings by American and European masters and emerging artists. Art glass, sculpture, jewelry and art to wear. Special exhibits. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

Gallery on Fifth Annex, 950 Third Ave. N., (941) 435-7377. Gallery and working studio of Joan Osborn-Dunkle, contemporary artist; Jim Chamberlain, landscape-portrait photographer; Geanne Volds, framer; Richard Rosen, raku; and Antanas Ulevicius, sculptor. Call for hours.

Gallery One, 1301 Third St. S., (941) 263-0835. Contemporary art with mixed media of paintings, sculpture, art class and crafts. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. b4roc@aol.com.

Gardner Colby Gallery, 386 Broad Ave. S., (941) 403-7787. A traditional fine art gallery featuring a variety of paintings and sculptures by renowned and emerging artists in an elegant and welcoming ambience. Special exhibits. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, Sunday in season. www.gardnercolbygallery.com.

Harmon-Meek Gallery, 601 Fifth Ave. S., (941) 261-2637. Florida's oldest active privately owned sales gallery. American art from 1920 to present represents 50 major artists ranging in style from abstract to realism. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday (early October-April).

HW Gallery, 1391 Third Street South, (941) 263-6640. A collection of tradi-tional, modern and contemporary art. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. www.hwgallery.com.

Images Art Gallery, 7400 Tamiami Trail N., (941) 598-3455. Original wildlife and nature paintings and bronzes by award-winning artists. Special exhibits. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Kahn Galleries International, 378 13th Ave. S., (941) 434-9200. Enjoy fine art and fine sculptures. Exhibits feature well-known South African artists. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, during season Nov. 1-May 31. During off-season, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday.

Kensington-Stobart Gallery, 380 Broad Ave. S., (941) 261-5699. Originals and numbered and signed lithographs by John Stobart, world-renowned maritime artist. Wildlife, bronzes and signed and numbered gold jewelry by Brian Arthur and watercolors and oils by Bert Wright. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.

Knox Gallery, 375 Broad Ave. S., (941) 263-7994. Showcased are indoor and outdoor bronzes, impressionist and realist paintings. Two featured Spanish impressionist oil painters are Luna and Segrelles. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sundays. Closed during off-season.

The Lady from Haiti, 476 Fifth Ave. S., (941) 649-8607. Haitian folk art as well as world-renowned Haitian painter's works from steel-drum sculptures to papier-mâché and metal sculpted banana trees. Southwest Florida's exclusive representative of painter Claude Dambreville. Special exhibits, call for hours.

Marianne Friedland Gallery, 359 Broad Ave. S., (941) 262-3484. Specializing in postwar American masters, including Wolf Kahn, Milton Avery, Hans Hofmann, Janet Fish, Jules Olitski, Tom Wesselmann, George Rickey and master American printmakers. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday (November-April). mfgallery@aol.com.

Marine Arts Gallery, 4250 Gulf Shore Blvd., (941) 261-0000. Features new original oil paintings by Richard K. Loud, known for his Nantucket beaches and sailing scenes, plus original oils, watercolors and limited edition prints by artist Roy Cross, a member of the Royal Society of Marine Artists. Call for hours.

Naples Museum of Art, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., (941) 597-1900. Features a revolving eclectic collection of world-class exhibitions and a permanent collection of Arts of China. Complimentary docent tours at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday from October through May. Special lectures to define and explain the various exhibitions. $6/adults, $3/students.

Phil Fisher Gallery, 824 Fifth Ave. S., (941) 403-8393. Features original watercolors and oils by Phil Fisher and batik paintings by Natalie Guess. Local scenes of Naples landmarks such as the Everglades, South Florida landscapes, birds and wildlife. Noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, noon to 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday.

Rick Moore Fine Art, 4230 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., (941) 434-6464; and 5455 Tamiami Trail N., (941) 592-5455. Contemporary paintings, sculpture and fine art glass. Artists include American impressionists Howard Behrens, Henrietta Milan, Thom Millsap, Suzanne Luker and Maria Bertran. Special exhibits, framing. Call for hours.

Santa Fe Studio, 1827 Trade Center Way, Suite 4, (941) 594-8102. Explores the concept of furniture as art, featuring the work of a different artist each month. Call for hours. www.santafestudio.org.

Shaw Gallery of Naples Inc., 761 Fifth Ave. S., (941) 261-7828. Located in the heart of downtown Naples, Shaw showcases a wide array of local, national and international artists. Contemporary to traditional. Special exhibits. Seasonal hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. www.shawgallery.com.

The Artwork Shop, 1309 Third St. S., (941) 262-5272. Featured are original paintings in oil, watercolor and giclée from local artists. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday. During off-season, the shop closes at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

The von Liebig Art Center, Naples Art Association, 585 Park St., (941) 262-6517. American art from the 1950s forward. Various exhibitions. Classes/instruction, lectures, special exhibits. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

Trudy Labell Fine Art, 1610 Trade Center Way, (941) 593-0211. Features an expansive collection of sophisticated fine art from masterpieces of realism to minimalist abstract constructions. Renowned artists whose works are in major museum collections as well as talented young artists. In-home consultations, professional installation and lighting design are offered. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday and by appointment.

Weatherburn Gallery, 281 Broad Ave. S., (941) 263-8008. Exhibits that explore art from different countries in a variety of artistic styles. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday. www.weatherburn.com.

PINE ISLAND

Crossed Palms Gallery, 8315 Main St., (941) 283-2283. More than 135 artists. Pottery, glass, jewelry and metal sculptures. All paintings are local- from Sarasota to Fort Myers. Carvings, painted furniture. Seasonal hours.

Koucky Studios, 5971 Baypoint Road, (941) 283-4414. Featuring American crafts, fine art and pottery made on site by Chuck Koucky. Tropical plant nursery. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. www.kouckygallery.com.

SANIBEL ISLAND

Aboriginals: Art of the First Person, 2340 Periwinkle Way in The Village, (941) 395-2200. Museum-quality fine tribal art from Africa and Australia, plus Native American art. Masks, carvings, pottery, baskets, textiles and jewelry. Lectures, special exhibits. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon to 4:30 p.m. Sunday (closed Sunday during summer). www.tribalworks.com.

B.I.G. Arts Center, 900 Dunlop Road, (941) 395-0900. Ongoing exhibits in the Phillips Gallery that change monthly. Juried and invitational shows and local artists. Sculpture garden features five fixed pieces. 1 to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Call for current exhibit information.

Sanibel Gallery, 1628 Periwinkle Way, (941) 472-3307. Oldest gallery on the islands. Dedicated to the representation of local artists with a view on the semi-tropical atmosphere generated on Sanibel Island. Having grown to represent more than 170 American artists and craftsmen, the gallery offers clay, glass, sculpture, wood, metal and jewelry crafts, plus the annual Sanibel Christmas ornament. Special exhibits, framing. www.sanibelgallery.com.

Seaweed Gallery, 2055 Periwinkle Way, (941) 472-2585; and 11509 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva, (941) 472-1167. A collective gathering of local artists featuring a mix of acrylics and south Florida watercolors, oils, collages, mobiles, painted ceramics and painted furniture. Nantucket baskets, jewelry, Raku, Gyotaku fish prints and mosaics. Several doll artists and special art from Katie Gardenia. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, Sanibel; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Saturday, Captiva. www.seaweedgallery.com.

Tin Can Alley Gallery, 2480 Library Way, (941) 472-2902. Seasonal hours.

A Touch of Sanibel Pottery, 1544 Periwinkle Way, (941) 472-4330. Hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind functional art pottery made on premises. Various processes such as raku, salt fire and wood fire. Special exhibits. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

Tower Gallery, 751 Tarpon Bay Road, (941) 472-4557. Features oils, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, hand-pulled prints, black-and-white photography, raku ceramics, painted furniture, stained glass, baskets, metal sculptures and special exhibits. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.