Celebrating Li Volk

The 18th Annual Avamar Foundation Benefit

This month, Art Avenue is proud to celebrate one of our exceptional Sarasota-based artists, Li Volk. She will be the featured artist for the 18th Annual Avamar Foundation Benefit: An Evening Under the Stars, hosted by Farid Naffah, M.D.

Taking place on Friday and Saturday, August 21st and 22nd, in Cleveland, Ohio, the event will showcase a skillful assortment of Li's best work: portraiture, figurative, floral, landscape, still life, and animal paintings.

Each year, Art Avenue is honored to partner with the Avamar Foundation and selects one of our talented artists to represent the gallery at one of our favorite charitable events.

This year, we are thrilled to have Li Volk carry that tradition forward with The Breadth of Light. This exhibition is inspired by real people and the real beauty of who and what she loves dearly.

About Li Volk

Born in Wuhan, China, Li moved to the United States in 2001 after a successful career in marketing and branding that began in Shenzhen in 1992. Many who have seen the exceptional technical detail in her work would find it hard to believe, but she didn't formally study art until the summer of 2016.

Since 2021, Li has studied with international Master Artists and has earned numerous awards for her art, including an Honorable Mention at the 16th Annual Art Renewal Center (ARC) International Salon Competition in 2023—one of the world's most prestigious competitions for representational art—with the exhibition held at Sotheby's in New York.

2026 marks ten years of her artistic journey, having been a member of the Portrait Society of America since 2021 and, since 2025, serving as State Co-Ambassador for Southwest Florida.

We invite you to join us in congratulating Li on this well-deserved honor and celebrating another year of Art Avenue's partnership with the Avamar Foundation.

Kai in Light Golden Shawl reflects

the distanced-but-never-gone sorrow life carries within.

Sorcha in Gold captures a moment

caught in her fantasy, wondering.

About The Gallery

Welcome to Art Avenue, Sarasota's premier international art gallery representing investment-level artworks by 20th-century masters such as Salvador Dalí, alongside contemporary legends like Natasha Turovsky and a variety of local talent.

Currently on exhibit:

Salvador Dalí

Natasha Turovsky

Peter Max

Romero Britto

Joseph Palmerio

Li Volk

Jack Dowd

Joe Palmerio

Vicki Chelf

Zenith Zaahir Dolce

Olivia Curren

Bonnie Keane

Ambrus Diossy

Patricia Song

Pablo Picasso

& more

We also host an array of special events at both of our gallery locations, including but not limited to:

Artist Openings and Exhibitions

*Li Volk's "Breadth of Light" Exhibit in Cleveland, OH

Art Auctions

*Every FIRST Friday of the month downtown @ 7 pm!

Birthday Parties

Classical Music Concerts

Dance Classes

Fundraisers for our favorite non-profits

*ESPECIALLY Second Heart Homes

Inclusivity & Neurodiversity-Affirming Events

Meditations

*FREE at the mall gallery every Wednesday @ 3 pm!

Poetry Workshops

Paint Bar Classes

Wine Tastings

If you are interested in attending or hosting an event in our space, please reach out to Paul Sykes at 440-227-4592.

Paint Bar Sessions Available

For artists of all ages & levels of experience

All materials included

$59/person

Call 440-227-4592

Meet Sensai Zen

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.

Zenith is now offering Paint Bar classes at our downtown gallery location, where she can help you understand how to layer paint and start your artistic journey today!

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

A Neurodiversity-Affirming Business in Sarasota, Florida

Art Avenue is proud to partner with Behavior Teaching Solutions, offering creative workshops at both Sarasota gallery locations, including Language of Love—exploring healing, belonging, and emotional wellness through music, movement, poetry, and guided conversation for neurodivergent children, teens, and adults alike. 

From neighborhood events in Florida to behavioral science summits in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, Behavioral Teaching Solutions creates meaningful change through its inclusive events, creative collaborations, and advocacy rooted in science and compassion.

For those who may not already know, gallery owner Paul Sykes has an autistic son named Alex. 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 events.

Visit Us


Downtown Sarasota

1367 Main Street,

Sarasota, FL 34236

Siesta Key Mall

3501 S Tamiami Trail

Sarasota, FL 34239

We look forward to seeing you!

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This newsletter was crafted with love by

The Princess Poetess