- May 18, 2025
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Tucked into a quiet pocket of downtown Sarasota — just far enough from the buzz of Main Street to feel like a hidden gem — is the artful enclave known as the Towles Court Art Center. Today, it’s home to nine working artists, many with national gallery representation and loyal collectors.
The center occupies a historic 1920s building that’s reminiscent of a farmhouse, complete with an Old Florida-style wraparound porch used for pop-up events and live music. There’s a restaurant around back. Inside, the studios hum with creative energy as artists produce new work in mediums ranging from oil paint and metal clay to abstract mixed media.
Together, these artists carry on a tradition of creativity and collaboration that began when the larger Towles Court neighborhood was revitalized in the mid-1990s as an artists’ colony.
The neighborhood itself dates to the 1920s, once a thriving residential area for professionals and seasonal visitors. By the late 1970s, however, it had fallen into disrepair. In 1995, developer N.J. Olivieri began its revival, envisioning — with the help of a few founding artists — a vibrant arts district.
At its peak, Towles Court was home to more than 50 working artists and 25 galleries. Monthly Third Friday Art Walks drew hundreds of people, including this writer. They felt like block parties celebrating how art was so cool.
By 2020, however, the dissolution of the Towles Court Homeowners’ Association and the elimination of deed restrictions on the neighborhood’s historic buildings opened the door for redevelopment, effectively dismantling the artists' colony.
But despite challenges, the Towles Court Art Center persists, with optimism and creative spirit intact. The storied Third Friday Art Walk continues, October through May from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., drawing a smaller but no less enthusiastic crowd.
More than just a cluster of studios, the center remains a creative community, a gathering place and a living testament to the resilience of Sarasota’s arts scen, even as the rest of the neighborhood undergoes construction and change.
“We all have very distinct styles. No two of us are alike. But the camaraderie is strong,” says painter Peter Garon. Originally from Massachusetts, and a former architect and gallery owner in Washington, D.C. and Naples, Garon works primarily in oil, often painting "moods" rather than scenes.
His titles evoke emotion, like "Calm," "Rapture" and "Silence." Garon explains his artistic process as beginning with a feeling that gradually evolves into a textured expression of color and form.
For Garon and the eight other artists there, the Towles Court Art Center provides more than just a place to work in concert with each other. “When I first got to Sarasota and didn’t know where to source materials, everyone was incredibly helpful,” he says. Everybody pitches in on everything from event planning to advertising. "We talk it out and vote as a group."
Jewelry artist Erica Caswell, whose business Serendipitous Satori began with pop-up events on the building’s porch, calls the center her creative home. Caswell’s work evolved from repurposing broken family jewelry into creating one-of-a-kind pieces crafted from eco-friendly and found materials.
“The artists in our studios are very dedicated, extremely talented and want to continue to provide an exceptional experience for customers and the community as a whole,” Caswell says.
Painter Anne Ireland agrees. “We have a very collaborative and friendly environment here,” she says. Ireland splits her time between a saltwater farm in Maine and Sarasota, painting most of a piece in Florida before finishing it in her quieter, much larger northern studio, where she can mount and view all her new work as a whole. Still, when she’s gone, she misses the natural light and high ceilings of her Sarasota space.
A graduate of the Portland School of Art, Ireland appreciates the critiques and support she gets at Towles Court, which she doesn’t experience in her Maine studio. “It’s growth through osmosis,” Ireland explains, likening the experience —for herself and visitors alike —to how a museum visit changes minds and sensibilities through exposure to other artists’ visions.
A visit to the Towles Court Art Center offers a rare treat: the chance to meet the artist behind the work and see where the magic happens. “Being able to chat with an artist in person and ask them about their process is such a huge gift,” says Caswell. “It’s completely different from buying something online with no context or connection.”
For Garon, these connections often evolve into friendships. "I've had visitors come back weeks or years later to buy a piece. Some collectors have become close friends," he says.
Guests may be treated to refreshments from local bakeries and breweries, or even live music by Sarasota musicians. “We hire local talent for our open studio nights,” Garon notes.
Pop-up events on the porch — like the one that first brought Caswell into the Art Center —range from yoga classes to antique sales hosted by lifelong collectors in their 90s, all adding to the eclectic, community-driven atmosphere.
In addition to Peter Garon, Erica Caswell, and Anne Ireland, the six other artists at Towles Court cover a wide range of styles and disciplines:
Each artist brings something unique to the mélange. “We have a variety of painting styles, eclectic jewelry, and each artist has a story,” says Caswell. “Visitors find connections with us as people as well as with our work.”
That deep connection — between artists and the community, the artists and their collectors, and among the artists themselves — sets the Towles Court Art Center apart from museums and many other galleries. "In a world where human interaction can feel superficial or transactional, this place fosters real relationships," says Ireland.
Garon echoes the sentiment: "I’ve even imagined a gathering of my collectors. They don’t know each other, but I’m the thread that connects them."
“Some people stumble upon us by word of mouth or through a local art directory,” Ireland adds. “But when they do come, they feel the warmth and energy. It’s special."
The artists of the Towles Court Art Center are a determined bunch. Even during the challenges of COVID, they continued hosting events for the public. People wore masks and kept their distance, but the tradition of interaction with the community lived on. “These events are part of what make Towles Court Art Center special,” says Ireland. "They're inclusive, welcoming and full of character."
The artists of Towles Court aren't just preserving tradition; they're looking forward to a vibrant future. Caswell recently commissioned muralist Annie Dong to create a custom work in her studio to make it a fanciful gathering place. She plans to host jewelry workshops and social gatherings, building on recent successes like a porch yoga class led by local instructor Kristen Burnett.
While Towles Court Art Center has changed over the decades, its heart remains the same. The architecture, the porch, the people — it all works together to make the center a creative adventure for visitors and artists alike.
Garon says, “People often remark on the quality and level of accomplishment they see when they visit. And when they do, they usually come back.”
Whether you’re a seasoned collector, a curious browser or a tourist looking to kill time between engagements, the Towles Court Art Center invites you to slow down, step inside and connect — maybe even to your own inner artist who’s waiting to emerge.
