Each year, the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts’ Emerging Artists Program provides a platform for new voices in the visual arts, offering not just an opportunity to exhibit, but also mentorship, professional development, and the chance to connect directly with collectors. At the 2025 festival, painter Ryan Michael Kelly stood out from a talented field and was named the winner of the Emerging Artists Award. His journey over the past year shows how the program can truly change an artist’s trajectory.
From New York Beginnings to Tampa’s Festival Scene
When Ryan applied to the Emerging Artists Program in the fall of 2024, he was at the very beginning of his journey as a painter. Having recently left New York where he was a photographer, he was determined to pursue a lifelong dream of painting, though at the time, his experience was limited. “It was always my dream to be a painter, so I figured I had to start somewhere,” he recalls. He began by connecting with a local gallery, which helped him get his first works into the public eye.
But Florida’s capricious weather threw him a curveball early on. Just before one of his first shows was set to open, a hurricane forced its cancellation. While disappointing, that moment proved pivotal. It was then that Ryan first began to imagine how art festivals might give him the exposure he needed. That spark of curiosity led him to Tampa’s Hyde Park Art Fest where he crossed paths with a member of GFA’s Emerging Artists Committee, who told him about the EA program and asked him to apply.
Finding a Voice Through Dedication
Although relatively new to painting, Ryan has been relentless in his pursuit of developing his style. “I won’t say that I’m 100% there yet, maybe I’m only 50% there, but I definitely have found my voice,” he explains. His influences range widely, but names like Willem de Kooning and Jean-Michel Basquiat stand out. “You can see de Kooning in my work for sure, and also some more current figurative painters.”
What anchors his progress is discipline. Ryan paints nearly every day, because for him, taking even a short break risks disrupting his rhythm and style. “When I step away, I lose not only my brushstroke style but also my overall concept. But it comes back naturally the more I paint.” This daily practice, combined with his willingness to study hundreds of other artists, has accelerated his growth. His story is a reminder that dedication and persistence are just as important as inspiration in the making of an artist.
Mentorship and Festival Success
The Emerging Artists Program offered Ryan far more than a booth—it gave him a crash course in how to be a professional artist. “It really had nothing to do with developing your art so much as it had to do with how to display your art, how to edit your art, how to present it in a way that is sellable,” he says. He learned how to transform a 10-by-10-foot tent into a gallery space that invited visitors in and allowed his work to shine. The mentoring sessions offered to artists selected for the EA program guided him in presentation, pricing, and sales strategy, all the behind-the-scenes details that can make or break a festival experience.
By the time festival weekend arrived, Ryan was nervous. He had questions every new artist faces: Had he brought too much work? Too little? Would his booth display function properly? Would anyone want to buy his paintings? “I literally had zero expectations of sales. I just wanted to get feedback on my work,” he remembers. But the outcome far exceeded his hopes. Ryan sold sixteen paintings over the weekend, small, medium, and even a few large pieces. For an artist who thought he might sell nothing, the response was electrifying. “I was so surprised, and I consider it a huge success.”
That success gave him momentum. Instead of viewing GFA as a one-off opportunity, Ryan began to see festivals as a viable path forward. He is now committed to exhibiting at fine-art festivals around the country, with more than a dozen on his calendar for this year alone.
A Career Taking Flight
The months since GFA have been transformative. Ryan is now represented by four different galleries in Florida and Georgia, while also actively pursuing new partnerships with interior designers and collectors. “I’m very proactive with my work,” he says. “I’m reaching out to designers, galleries, and anyone in the industry I want to work in.” That hustle has paid off, with steady sales and a growing base of collectors.
Importantly, the experience helped clarify his goals. “What I really want for my art career is being able to live solely off my art,” he shares. He isn’t focused on wealth for its own sake but on meaningfully connecting with collectors who resonate with his work. Already, several buyers have returned to purchase multiple pieces, affirming his belief that building long-term relationships is as important as each individual sale.
Ryan also emphasizes the role of direct connection. “Sales online are difficult, and relying only on galleries is tough. People really resonate with speaking to the artist about their work. When I take the time to explain what a piece means, that’s when collectors want to bring it into their homes.” This balance, being both creator and communicator, is something he credits to his GFA experience.
Looking Ahead to GFA 2026
Winning the Emerging Artists Award secured Ryan’s place in the 2026 festival, and he’s already planning for it. He hopes for a corner booth that will allow him to display larger works, including double-panel pieces up to 8 by 6 feet. For him, working large is both an artistic and emotional choice. “Big pieces of art mean a lot in a home. They’re powerful for a collector to dedicate that much space, and for me as an artist, it’s exciting to take up that space.”
Ryan’s background as a professional photographer continues to influence his process. He often begins with digital collages of his own photos and other imagery, layering them to create a visual narrative before translating them into paint. “I’m trying to play with concepts that aren’t possible in photography,” he says. “I’m less concerned with technical ability and more with making sure the concept is strong. That’s what resonates with people.”
Continuing the Legacy of Emerging Artists
Looking back, Ryan credits the Emerging Artists Program not just with giving him a platform, but with shaping how he sees himself as an artist. “GFA definitely helped me be proactive in the sales of my art,” he reflects. It gave him the confidence to pursue opportunities that once felt out of reach.
As he prepares for his return to GFA in 2026, Ryan embodies the purpose of the Emerging Artists Program: to identify talent, nurture growth, and give artists the tools to thrive. For him, the program has been both a launching pad and a proving ground and his story serves as an invitation to other artists considering the leap.
Applications for the 2026 Emerging Artists Program open October 1. To learn more about how the program supports new voices in the arts and how you could be the next award winner, visit the Emerging Artists Page on the GFA website.
