The opening date for this exhibition is tentative due to construction taking place at the Harn. It will open sometime in spring of 2026 and run through the summer. This statement will be removed when the opening date is finalized.
The Harn Museum of Art will present Florida in the Frame: A Century of Artists’ Reflections on the Sunshine State as part of a year-long celebration of its 35th anniversary in 2025 – 2026. The exhibition will explore Florida as subject through more than 80 works drawn from The Florida Art Collection, Gift of Samuel H. and Roberta T. Vickers. The exhibition will investigate how these diverse images evoke and respond to the state’s natural resources, its history, and the popular culture of its recent past. Spanning c. 1850 to 1950, the objects on view will include paintings, works on paper, and a small group of sculptures and textiles representing more than 65 artists. Examples include prominent figures in American art such as Martin Johnson Heade, Winslow Homer, Thomas Moran, John Singer Sargent, Louis Comfort Tiffany, Ralston Crawford and N.C. Wyeth, as well as lesser-known artists such as Albert Backus, Stevan Dohanos, Jane Peterson, Laura Woodward and Florida Highwaymen painters Johnny Daniels and Harold Newton.
Florida in the Frame will be organized along three broad themes: “Visualizing Florida”, “Expanding Cities” and “Florida Destinations”. “Visualizing Florida” will present a wide range of perspectives and engagement with Florida as subject. Examples include portraits, scenes of agricultural life, and views of coastlines, waterways and architectural landmarks. “Expanding Cities” will focus on depictions of the built environment in cities such as St. Augustine, Jacksonville, Tampa and Miami, and address the impact of these developments on the cultural landscape of Florida cities. “Florida Destinations” will address the state’s transformation to a major vacation destination, from its remoteness in the 19th century to the tourism boom in the 20th century. In addition, a selection of books, postcards and brochures on loan from UF’s Smathers Libraries will complement the themes addressed in the exhibition.