My five favorite artworks at Floridarama

katelyn958
Aug 21
3 min read

Must-See Favorites: Through the Eyes of Katelyn, Experience Director

Hello, creative friends! Katelyn here again, bursting with pride to spotlight my five favorite artworks at FloridaRAMA. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or rediscovering familiar corners, you’re in for an experience that delights the eyes, heart, and imagination. Let’s dive in!

1) The Bait Ball: Devon Brady

Futuristic room with teal lighting, metal cage structure, and abstract shapes. Dynamic and intriguing atmosphere with artistic elements.

I absolutely adore this one. Picture entering a fish trap–style passageway that unfolds into an 8-foot-tall zoetrope! As it spins, you’re surrounded by a mesmerizing school of mullets. Light, motion, STEAM vibes, and an eerie-yet-playful aquatic soundtrack create an immersive underwater reality. It’s such a brilliant blend of art and science, and a permanent jewel in our exhibit.

2) Shrimpfinity

Oversized shrimp cocktail martini installation inside FloridaRAMA’s Mermaid Motel, one of the favorite artworks in St. Petersburg.

This sculptural scene is pure Florida whimsy: a six-foot-tall shrimp cocktail served in a giant martini glass, with animated shrimp projections dancing across the walls and synced soundscapes. It’s funny, surprising, and absolutely shareable, perfect for a vivid Insta-op.

3) RAMA

Playful mermaid front desk installation at FloridaRAMA, featured among the favorite artworks of the exhibit.

Hidden within the mouth of a massive cyborg gator lies one of my favorite details: dioramas crafted by over 20 artists, each a miniature Florida dream. These tiny, story-rich boxes invite visitors to lean in, imagine, and linger, a nod to the playful wonders found in Florida’s odd and lovely corners.

Commissioned by over two dozen creators, the RAMA Room spans everything from underwater reveries to roadside Americana and Everglades lore, tiny worlds that reward slow looking. Keep an eye out for Mystic Reef (Ari Robinson), Reclaimed by Weird: The Mysteries of Abandoned Florida (Kayla Heintz), Aqua Forest (Adela Salas), Resting (Amanda LaForest “The Peach Moon”), The Panther Pathway (Amy Ilic-Volpe), Drive-In and Swamp Motel (Ashley Cantero), The Last Sea: Diorama (Babs Reingold), The Mystery Solved (Brandy Stark), Skunk Ape Shares Lima Beans with Martian (Calan Ree), Mermaid Star Motel Lobby (Chad Jacobs), Poseidon Estates: A Retirement Community for Merpeople (Eileen Goldenberg), Nighttime Everglades Adventure (Elizabeth Barenis), Florida in Stereo (Hiromi Moneyhun), Bleak (iBOMS), Greetings From Mermaids’ Lair (John Gascot), Florida Room (Jordie Poncy), MOONSHINE (Josh Campbell), Hidden Treasure (Liz Dimmitt), Fountain of Youth (Mark Mitchell), Radio-Controlled Rocket Powered Non-Dairy Ice Cream Delivery Vehicle (Maxwell Parker), The Illuminating Gaze (Paul LeRoy Gheres), Sugarland Swamp (Sam Ehrnman), Consumed by Everglades (Saumitra Chandratreya), Welcome to Florida (Thaddeus “TJ” Erdahl), and Soft Data: Florida in Bloom, a digital diorama bench by Type_n.

4) Flora-Da-Scope: Aleisha Prather, Alex Kaufman & George Retkes

Colorful neon-lit Mermaid Motel room, showcasing one of FloridaRAMA’s favorite artworks in St. Pete.

Flora-Da-Scope is a huge, Florida-themed kaleidoscope. Using movement, LEDs, and acrylic, it transports viewers to a psychedelic, fantastical world, often leaving them speechless. It’s more modern (and cooler!) than any kaleidoscope I’ve seen; a gateway you need to experience first-hand to fully understand.

5) Mermaid Star Motel & Everglades Arena

Neon sign installation at FloridaRAMA, one of the favorite artworks visitors love to photograph in St. Petersburg.

A double feature! The Mermaid Star Motel façade, retro-futuristic, scale-detailed, and crowned with “penthouse” digital art by Nick Davis and Jaurice Moore, opens into the Everglades Arena, where a 50-foot projection of lull-inducing Floridian landscapes invites you to sit, pause, and get lost in the sunset. It blends nostalgia, technology, and serenity.

Bonus: Sugar Coat Disco: Jaimie Bird & McKenzie Erickson

Sparkling disco clam piece at FloridaRAMA, highlighted as one of the favorite artworks in the immersive Mermaid Motel.

I simply can't stop smiling at this candy-coated, disco-themed room. It’s playful, glamorous, and packed with hidden metaphors. Snap a shot on the “Disco Throne,” or hunt for the “magical spoon” in a wall of thousands, while being invited to look beyond the sweet surface polish.

What Makes These Shine (and Why I Love Them)

Narrative & Wonder: Each piece, from dioramas to disco rooms, sparks imagination and invites you into the story.

Local Creator Voices: We champion Florida artists, helping their visions bloom center-stage.

Diverse Mediums & Magic: Sculptures, projections, dioramas, cocktail surrealism, FloridaRAMA weaves them into one flamboyant tapestry.

Guest Connection: These are the spots folks pause, grin, share, and remember, moments of joy, curiosity, and “I can’t believe this exists!”

What These Artworks Reveal About FloridaRAMA

FloridaRAMA is more than an art venue; it’s a kaleidoscope of Florida stories, creativity, and curiosity. These impactful artworks highlight the playful spirit, vibrant artistry, and immersive storytelling that fuel the magic of our space.

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