Shopping for Art, Antiques and Collectibles

Peruse local artists’ works in the heart of downtown St. Pete at Shapiro's Gallery, Florida CraftArt and the Morean Arts Center. These popular shops feature fine art and crafts made by artists working in a wide variety of media including oil paintings, multimedia, glass, clay, metal sculpture and jewelry. Shop during regular business hours or evenings during Second Saturday Artwalks. You won’t want to miss the opportunity to bring home a special handcrafted souvenir (or two) to remind you of your trip.

Bonus: If you’re looking for fanciful items downtown, head to 5th Avenue North to the tucked-away Pageboy Vintage Market, Apothecary & Hair Studio, where you’ll find stylish kitchenware, reimagined vintage furniture, body-care items and a whole lot more.

A bit to the west, wander around St. Pete’s Grand Central District to find an array of galleries and antiques and collectibles shops scattered along Central Avenue, including Buster's Antiques, ARTPool and Craftsman House Gallery. Venture a few blocks south to the Warehouse Arts District – there you’ll discover unique pieces at the Duncan McClellan Gallery, Charlie Parker Pottery and Zen Glass Studio.

No art lover’s visit to St. Pete/Clearwater would be complete without stopping in at Evander Preston Jewelry in the Pass-a-Grille Historic District. The space is a tribute to its late namesake, a legendary local artist who for years made and sold his signature jewelry and other artwork out of the shop. Across the street is an adorable gallery, A Little Room for Art. Up the beach a bit, browse unique works of art at Suntan Art Center. 

If you happen to be visiting St. Pete Beach on a Sunday, be sure to check out the Corey Avenue Sunday Market, where local and visiting craftspeople sell their wares along vibrant Corey Avenue – and pop into Paradise Gifts & Home Décor while you’re there.

Wonderfully wacky Gulfport hosts its popular art walks along Beach Boulevard on the first Friday of every month and themed walks four times a year. Similar to the St. Pete events, art walks here are fun ways to shop for artwork, meet the artists, listen to live music and dine at great restaurants.

This pint-sized city’s highly walkable downtown district is a vintage and antique hunter’s dream. Favorites include the Gulfport Beach Bazaar – featuring an eclectic assortment of clothing, tchotchkes and second-hand items as well as a post office – and the Boulevard Shoppe Garden, which offers a great collection of unique items, collectibles and vintage pieces.

Spend many happy hours browsing at Oddities and Antiques (taxidermy, creepy dolls and other one-of-a-kind items), Vintage Sunshine Shop (antiques, upcycled furniture and vintage goods) and Slade’s Trades Antique Shop & Auction House (15,000 square feet of treasures) in Clearwater.

Located on Main Street in charming downtown Safety Harbor, the Syd Entel Galleries/Susan Benjamin Glass specializes in high-end glass art, but it also features paintings, limited-edition prints and sculptures. While you’re exploring this artsy enclave, check out the coral-hued Safety Harbor Galleria for boho, retro and funky boutique offerings. Down the street, a life-sized pink elephant sculpture adorned with flowers welcomes visitors to the Safety Harbor Art & Music Center. Inside, peruse the works of nearly 40 artists in the gallery and gift shop. Bonus: Explore the collection of antiques and mid-century modern pieces at Rad Harbor Vintage furniture store (it’s open limited hours, so call ahead).

Dunedin's eclectic downtown is famously pedestrian-friendly and artsy, with a sprinkling of funky shops among its many restaurants and art galleries. Discover a range of unique merchandise to bring home, from affordable trinkets to vintage decor. You'll also find a treasure trove of antiques from more than 100 dealers in Knot On Main Street.

Art venues dedicated to working artists include The Painted Fish Gallery, which showcases works by local and national artists in a spot overlooking Dunedin Marina. Also located near the water, Studio 1212 Art Gallery is the Tampa Bay area’s oldest artists’ cooperative. In addition to its regular hours, the gallery holds workshops and “open critiques,” where the public can bring in their own work and receive feedback on it.

For a different spin on glass as fine art, head to La Mancha Glass Gardens, a studio in Tarpon Springs that features artist-created glass doors with imagery ranging from Samurai warriors to tropical birds as well as carved glass sculpture, etched shower enclosures, glass portraiture and lighted carved glass.

Antiquing in the historic downtown is easy, with several antiques stores and malls within a single block. The Court of Two Sisters, featuring more than 30 vendors specializing in goods from the Victorian era to the 20th century, is a good place to start. Stop into Antiques Forever next door, then check out Bear Haven Land Company Vintage Toys, where you’ll find everything from antique porcelain dolls to Barbies and old-school Star Wars action figures (still in their original packaging, of course).

If you have any energy left after all that shopping, wander past downtown to the Sponge Docks along Dodecanese Boulevard for even more shops and restaurants.