TRANSFORMATION
MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS,
ST. PETERSBURG
One of the recent additions to the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg is this 4,300-pound Syrian funerary
monument of carved marble, which is on long-term loan from a private collection.
Some people handled the COVID-19 crisis with aplomb.
At the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, Executive
Director and CEO Kristen Sheppard took advantage
of the museum’s temporary closing to renovate and
reorganize its permanent collection galleries ahead of schedule
by accelerating the planned renovation in order to complete
all phases together, rather than separately. The museum has
been beautifully redone from floors to paint to lighting as it
celebrates its 55th anniversary.
Those familiar with the museum may wonder why anything
had to be changed. It was already one of the best encyclopedic
collections of art in the country with 12,000 square feet of
gallery space and a collection covering 5,000 years of art history.
44 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021
However, from the moment you enter, it will be immediately
obvious that a great museum has been transformed into a
spectacular space to show its art to the best advantage, while
also incorporating more than 100 new items to the nine
established galleries that represent particular time periods and
regions.
In addition, the sculpture garden has been replanted and
rearranged to give it a fresh look and feel. Likewise, the Marly
Room, which is used for special events and rented to the
public for weddings and other memorable occasions, has been
masterfully given an elegant, more contemporary style.
There is so much to see that you will probably require
more than one visit to appreciate the many mediums of art on
By Aaron R. Fodiman
KLINE MONUMENT WITH A RECLINING COUPLE AND EROTES, CIRCA A.D. 175-200