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The Maitland Art Center: A Legacy of Innovation and Community

The Art & History Museums of Maitland’s Maitland Art Center was originally founded in 1937 as The Research Studio by visionary artist and architect J. André Smith. Established as a winter artist’s retreat, the center was dedicated to the development of modern art and the creative spirit.

For more than 20 years, the Research Studio served as a hub for progressive thinking and experimental art. Today, the Maitland Art Center continues that legacy as a vibrant part of Central Florida’s art community, home to contemporary exhibitions, artist residencies, and community-focused programs that foster dialogue and creativity.

Florida’s First Gallery for Modern Art

When the Research Studio opened its doors in 1937, it was one of only three art galleries in the state, and the first in Florida dedicated entirely to the modern art movement, which at the time was still emerging in the United States. Its founding purpose was not only to showcase art, but to foster the creation of it.

Notable artists such as Milton Avery, Ralston Crawford, Doris Lee, and Elizabeth Sparhawk-Jones lived and worked on site, contributing to exhibitions that helped spark regional interest in modernism and expand the role of art in public life.

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Today, the Maitland Art Center’s contemporary gallery continues its legacy of experimentation through rotating exhibitions that highlight the work of both emerging and established artists. The Art & History Museums of Maitland also host a robust Art School and two dynamic artist residency programs—Artist in Residence and Artist in Action—that foster creativity on-site. With a focus on innovation, community engagement, and new perspectives, the campus remains a vital hub in Florida’s cultural landscape.

Links to pages of interest: