ART GALLERIES

“The local art scene is very powerful. Every day, every week, I meet new artists doing amazing work.” — David Acevedo

LEE COUNTY ALLIANCE FOR THE ARTS, Fort Myers

artinlee.org Nonprofit agency has grown to 50-plus arts and cultural organizations, 1,200 members, some 133,000 annual visitors. “Our job is to provide a warm and welcoming place. We are using our front yard as a showcase and gateway to the city,” Alliance executive director Lydia Black says.

BOB RAUSCHENBERG GALLERY

at Florida SouthWestern State College, Fort Myers rauschenberggallery.com Rauschenberg’s half-century-plus presence on Captiva Island had the same effect on the local cultural scene as Thomas Edison’s presence in Southwest Florida. The gallery opened in 1979 and Rauschenberg launched a solo exhibit the following year—the first of 15 exhibits that included some world premieres. The gallery just ended an exhibit featuring the performers James Franco and Kalup Linzy.

UNIT A/MARCUS JANSEN, Fort Myers

unitaspace.com Jansen’s studio and gallery accommodates his large-scale urban expressionism, creating a diptych or tryptic that can be “put together as a larger work, like a puzzle,” he says.

ARTS FOR ACT GALLERY AND BOUTIQUE,

Fort Myers artsforactgallery.com The gallery carries the works of 40 to 50 artists, two monthly featured guest artists, as well as an auction preview in October. Purchases here do double-duty: supporting local artists and funding a domestic abuse shelter.

DAAS CO-OP, Fort Myers

daascoop.com David Acevedo and Xavier Brignoni have created an artists’ co-op in Royal Palm Square in Fort Myers. “The local art scene is very powerful. Every day, every week, I meet new artists doing amazing work,” says Acevedo.

HOWL GALLERY/TATTOO, Fort Myers

howlgallery.com Half is devoted to tattoos and piercing; the other half features fantasy, surreal and counterculture art, rock posters and Andy Howl originals. “There’s art everywhere,” he says.