Ringling Museum’s Nuestro Vaivén unites famous artists with Sarasota’s local voices

A year in the making, this vibrant collaboration bridges global fame and grassroots stories. See how art becomes a mirror for community identity—until March 22.

, and Administrator

2026 January 19 . 4:19 PM

1 min read

The image shows a room filled with paintings on the walls and a sculpture on a pedestal in the... — The image shows a room filled with paintings on the walls and a sculpture on a pedestal in the center. The walls are adorned with photo frames, and the ceiling is visible at the top of the image. This room is part of the National Gallery of Art in Rome.

Ringling Museum’s Nuestro Vaivén unites famous artists with Sarasota’s local voices

A major new exhibition celebrating famous artists has opened at the Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota. Titled Nuestro Vaivén, the project brings together four artists and four local community leaders. The show marks one of the museum’s first large-scale displays of modern Latin art and will run until 22 March.

The exhibition took a year and a half to develop. Four artists—Firelei Báez, María Magdalena Campos-Pons, Eamon Hagen, and Ektor Marshall—worked alongside Sarasota community figures. These leaders represented key pillars of the area: a doctor, a radio personality, a salon owner, and an entrepreneurial organiser.

Visual journalist Karen Arango contributed a site-specific installation, revisiting her Misbehave series from 2012–2013. For her piece, she teamed up with local salon owner and sculptor Rigoberto Torres. Meanwhile, multimedia artist Destyni 'Desi' Swoope created Generational Stitches, a work honouring her great-grandmother. The project aims to share diverse stories through art. Each collaboration reflects the voices and experiences of different communities within Sarasota.

The exhibition remains open to the public until 22 March. Visitors can explore works that blend personal narratives with broader cultural themes. The museum has described the show as a significant step in showcasing Latin contemporary art in the region.