Friend, Art Avenue Spotlights "Buddy" & Producer Drew Sykes

Beyond The Gallery Walls, Buddy Takes The Big Screen!

Here at Art Avenue galleries, we champion creativity, whether captured on canvas or camera. We delight in celebrating artists who are brave and determined to bring their creative visions to life!

This month, Art Avenue is especially proud to spotlight Buddy, a new horror-comedy produced by Drew Sykes, son of Art Avenue gallery owner Paul Sykes.

Following its exceptional premiere at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, Buddy officially opened in theaters on August 28th. The indie horror film grossed an impressive $5 million across only 1,258 theaters during opening weekend, more than doubling box office projections.

After achieving the highest 2026 opening weekend for any film released on fewer than 1,800 screens (a record-breaking release for Roadside Attractions and Saban Films), Buddy continues to thrive, already grossing an estimated $15.7 million within the first couple of weeks.

We are excited to celebrate Drew's behind-the-scenes work and Buddy's debut in Sarasota, Florida.

Congratulations to Drew and his entire Buddy team!

Read the Reviews

About The Gallery

Welcome to Art Avenue, Sarasota's premier international art gallery representing eclectic artworks by 20th-century masters, contemporary legends, and local talent alike.

Currently exhibiting:

Salvador Dalí

Natasha Turovsky

Peter Max

Romero Britto

Li Volk

Jack Dowd

Joe Palmerio

Vicki Chelf

Megan Howell

Victoria Arendt

Zenith

Olivia Curren

Bonnie Keane

Ambrus Diossy

Patricia Song

Pablo Picasso

& more

We also host special events at both gallery locations:

Artist Openings & Exhibitions

First Friday Art Auctions

Birthday Parties

Classical Music Concerts

Dance Classes

Fundraisers

Inclusivity & Neurodiversity-Affirming Events

Meditations

Poetry Readings

Paint Bar Classes

Wine Tastings

Interested in hosting an event in our space?

Contact Paul Sykes at 440-227-4592.

Can't make it to the gallery?

We'll bring the ART TO YOU!

For 30+ years, Art Avenue's Art To You service has allowed people to experience what a piece looks like on the wall of their home or business, so they can purchase with confidence. From selecting the artwork to framing and hanging it for you, we make the art-buying process personal, convenient, and fun.

Learn More

Upcoming Events & Collaborations

Friday, September 25, 2026 - Green Tara Practice by Lama Rina Otero

The Sarasota Meditation and Art Gallery was established to provide support in the discovery of one’s innate goodness and wisdom. This discovery creates intelligent and skillful actions that further benefit all who interact with us: family, friends, community, and world. It provides the impetus to appreciate the world we live in, and help create harmony and happiness.

All SMAG activities are donation-based.

Art Avenue (Sarasota Meditation Art Gallery)

3501 S Tamiami Trail

Sarasota, FL 34239

11:00 am - 12:00 pm

View the full calendar of SMAG events: MeditationArtGallery.com.

Sunday, September 27, 2026 - Milonga "El Arte"

Every fourth Sunday of the month, Art Avenue hosts a pre-Milonga class from 3:00 to 4:00 pm led by professional dance instructors Victor and Aksana. All levels welcome. Walk in and dance out.

Tickets: $20

Art Avenue (Mall Location)

3501 S Tamiami Trail

Sarasota, FL 34239

Pre-Milonga Class: 3:00 to 4:00 pm

Milonga: 4:00 to 7:00 pm

For more information, visit VATango.com .

For private lessons, email info@vatango.com

Paint Bar Sessions Available

For artists of all ages & levels of experience

All materials included

$59/person

Call 440-227-4592

Book A Class

Meet Our Instructors

Zen in her element, alongside her latest 'Work In Progress.'

Zenith is an expressionist painter and a BFA graduate from Sarasota's Ringling College of Art and Design.

She loves to paint to music, translating her emotions while keeping her focus on having her brush and pen move freely. She believes painting is as much about what is removed as what is added.

Reflected in her artwork as well as her teaching, she emphasizes the importance of finding balance between light and shadow.

Victoria in her element, painting in a Montenegrin 13th-century church.

Victoria paints the darker, stranger corners of everyday life. Her art is moody and atmospheric, but never takes itself too seriously. Through dark palettes, quirky characters, and unexpected humor, she blends the beautiful and the bizarre.

As an art teacher, she loves to create spaces where curiosity, experimentation, and individuality can thrive. She encourages her students to take risks and express themselves with confidence.

Summer in her element, painting a portrait of a beloved dog.

Summer majored in Fine Arts at Ringling College of Art and Design before transferring to Miano Academy of Art, where she completed a four-year apprenticeship program, specializing in realist drawing and painting.

She captures the personality and spirit of beloved pets through delicate detail and sensitivity and brings that same thoughtful approach to teaching, encouraging students to find their own artistic voice and paint what they love.

A Neurodiversity-Affirming Business in Sarasota, Florida

Art Avenue is proud to partner with Behavior Teaching Solutions and Conductive Connections under the leadership of Belle Stikeleather.

Sensory-friendly and neurodiversity-affirming programs such as Language of Love take place at both gallery locations. These collaborative events explore how art, music, conversation, and behavioral science can help facilitate more opportunities for belonging, well-being, and meaningful connection.

Conductive Connections is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) building inclusive opportunities and stronger connections across people, organizations, and the places where we live, learn, work, and create. To make a tax-deductible donation, please click here.

For those who may not already know, gallery owner Paul's son, Alex, is autistic. Together, the endearing father-son duo can be found sight-reading their classical favorites on the violin and piano, from Beethoven to Schubert, at various Behavioral Teaching Solutions and Conductive Connections events.

One for Art, Art for All: Meet Paul Sykes at Art Avenue | Sarasota SCENE Magazine

By Kaileia Suvannamaccha | Photo by Holly Elmore

Before he was a seasoned art dealer representing investment-level works by Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Peter Max, Paul Sykes was a classically trained violinist. "The violin saved my life as a child," he says.