Frank Hopper, Centennial Celebration, oil on canvas, 53 x 101 in.

Thomsen Fine Art is honored to share that Echoes of Sarasota is now on view to the public as part of the City of Sarasota Public Art Program. The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and Sarasota City Hall will house these historic works, alongside culturally significant pieces from Arts Advocates. 

We are grateful to the City of Sarasota for helping us bring this collection back into public view and for giving our community the opportunity to enjoy these meaningful works once again.

We believe every resident and visitor deserves the opportunity to see these pieces in person, and we are thrilled to share them with the people of Sarasota.

Click the button below to view the official website for Echoes of Sarasota Cultural Heritage Exhibit.

Regan Dunnick, Sarasota Arts and Science, pastel on watercolor paper, 40 x 99 in.

Originally created for and displayed in the Sarasota-

Bradenton International Airport, this remarkable collection tells the story of how our city came to be. 

From the Seminole Wars along the Myakka River to Scottish settlers and citrus farmers, this collection highlights the people, places, and visionaries who helped shape the city we know and love. 

For decades, the works of Frank Hopper and Regan Dunnick served as a living welcome to Sarasota - a visual reminder of the history, character, and spirit that define this city. We are honored to reintroduce these works to the public spaces where they belong.

As Sarasota continues to grow, preserving and sharing the stories of its past remains more important than ever.

Frank Hopper, Aching Cracker, oil on canvas, 63 x 111 in.

Frank Hopper's oils bring warmth and realism that allows us to view the past in a way that feels present. His work Centennial Celebration is one of my favorites; it portrays generations of people who have called Sarasota home all looking towards the city as it grew from a small fishing village to the vibrant cultural center we know today. 

Hopper's works carry meaningful connections to members of our community. Aching Cracker, seen above, was modeled by Robert C. Albritton of the Albritton Fruit Farms. The name still stirs up happy memories of picking berries until my fingers turned blue. The late Charles Holman modeled as Colonel John Hamilton Gillespie, the first mayor of Sarasota, for Scot's Delight. Charles served on the board of the Sarasota Opera and acted as Chairman. At his passing, his family requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Sarasota Opera.

Regan Dunnick, Bertha Palmer, pastel on watercolor paper, 40 x 99 in.

Regan Dunnick's large-scale pastel pieces offer a vibrant portrait of the people and places that shaped our community. He showcases Bertha Palmer, John and Mable Ringling along with incredible performers and pioneers like Emmett Kelly and the Great Wallendas. This collection serves as a tribute to our great city. It highlights where we have been and leaves room for where we're going. 

We are grateful to the City of Sarasota for helping us bring these pieces back to the public view. We invite you to visit and explore these works in person.

Frank Hopper, A Scots Delight, oil on canvas, 63 x 111 in.

Echoes of Sarasota Cultural Heritage Exhibit will be on view until June 23rd, 2027.

Subscribe for details about the Opening Reception.