money Paul Brent to open Panama City's newest art gallery after being closed almost three years
PANAMA CITY — Nationally recognized artist Paul Brent will open a new studio in Panama City for the first time since twin tragedies destroyed his gallery more than two years ago.
The gallery’s new location at 519 Grace Ave., named Paul Brent Studio, will open its doors from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 19 during the FLLUXE Festival 2022.
After Hurricane Michael damaged the original gallery on Beach Drive in October 2018, a construction fire during the subsequent renovation razed the structure in November 2019.
Rebuilding from scratch, Brent said the community’s support is what keeps him in Panama City and why he wants to contribute to its revitalization.
“I wanted to be located downtown to support the area’s revitalization,” Brent said about his new studio. “I’ve also been involved in several downtown events, so I really felt a commitment to being in this location.”
Brent has been selling his art locally since 1976, with his first painting sold at the Spring Arts Festival. In 1990, he opened the Paul Brent Galley on the corner of Beach Drive and Fifth Street, making it the cornerstone of the arts community and playing a historic role in downtown Panama City.
“All aspects of art are interesting to me as the creative spirit has many representations. I enjoy exploring art and the many ways I can express my abilities,” he said.
During the March 19 opening, visitors will be able to meet Brent, who will be talking about his latest work. Selected gifts and new decorative products with his artwork will be featured with special discounts.
FLLUXE Festival is a chalk art festival throughout the downtown area featuring the talents of local and national artists. The second annual fest will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the main event located at Destination Panama City, 101 Beach Drive. The event is family-friendly and free to the public.
“We thought this would be a great time to open the doors because many people will be downtown looking at art,” Brent said. “It will be great to greet our friends who have enjoyed the gallery in the past and make new friends who are new to Panama City.”
More from the artist: Brent's Endangered Species Art Competition marks 30th year in Bay County
The artist hosts the annual Paul Brent's Endangered Species Competition to encourage young artists. The contest was recently featured in the Panama City Center for the Arts main gallery showcasing the creative work from fourth-graders in the Bay County School District competing for the best-in-show school project and artists from each school. This year's theme was the little blue heron.
"Some of our initial students have their own fourth-graders now, so we're in the second generation of encouraging young people to create artwork," Brent said.
Brent has captured the images of the local area, creating such community icons as the water tower on U.S. 231 and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, the pelican mural at Sixth Street and Harrison Avenue, the Bay County Library mural and the mural for the technical building at Gulf Coast State College.
His other contributions to the community include painting a series of watercolors of historical buildings for Panama City’s centennial. In addition, he recently has been painting in oil on canvas and exploring a new watercolor surface.
Brent said he plans to host special gatherings and events at the new gallery to kick off this journey, and later plans to open fully to the public.
This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Artist Paul Brent opens a new studio in downtown Panama City
