“Tropical Gems,” Oils by Patricia Sorg, Star at Art Uptown in January

“Tropical Gems,” a solo exhibit of oil paintings by Bradenton artist Patricia Sorg, opens Dec. 31 at Art Uptown, 1367 Main Street, Sarasota. An artist’s reception is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 14, 6:30-9:30 p.m. at the gallery.

Born in Guatemala in 1956, Patricia is a painter who has mastered a variety of media and created a style all her own, emphasizing the deep and vibrant colors of her native country, as well as the Caribbean and Gulf Coast of Florida.

Patricia has been painting for 35 years and her work has been exhibited in numerous venues, including the Guatemalan Museum of Contemporary Art and Museo Ixchel as well as in galleries in St. Lucia, Guatemala City, Sarasota and Anna Maria Island. 

“I have always been inspired by the beautiful colors of my country – the vivid hues of my people’s textiles, the splashes of bright colors of the tropical fruits and birds, but, above all, the lovely deep blues of the Pacific Ocean,” the artist related.

She currently lives on the Gulf Coast of Florida, after spending the last couple of years in St. Lucia, West Indies, and much of her recent work is focused on local and Caribbean landscapes. She finds special inspiration in the incredible shades of turquoise and jade greens of the tropical waters, she noted.

Patricia’s featured exhibit will run through Jan. 28 at Art Uptown, Sarasota’s oldest cooperative fine art gallery. Art Uptown is open Monday-Friday 11-5 and Saturday 10-4. During the monthly First Friday Gallery Walks on Palm and Main streets, evening hours are 6-9. Telephone: 941-955-5409. www.artuptown.com.

ABOUT ART UPTOWN

Located on Lower Main Street in downtown Sarasota, Art Uptown provides a refreshing opportunity to see the work of a highly selective group of area artists. Continuously exhibiting work of its members for over 30 years, the gallery presents not only regionally flavored paintings, digital art and photography but also creative works in wood, ceramics, porcelain and raku. The gallery recently underwent renovations, which resulted in a fresher, brighter space for displaying local art.