The galleries of the Florida State University Museum of Fine Arts (MoFA) will be filled with vibrant florals June 11 during the museum's inaugural Art in Bloom event, sponsored by Tallahassee Nurseries.
For the first time at MoFA, local floral artists will create botanical arrangements inspired by watercolor paintings featured in the Tallahassee Watercolor Society's 2026 Tri-State Annual Juried Water Media Exhibition. The resulting displays will transform the galleries into a temporary collaborative installation.
Guests attending the ticketed event will be the first to view the floral installations while enjoying wine provided by Damas, light bites from Food Glorious Food and Cruton & Co., cakes from Eats by Elyse and live music.
MoFA Director Kaylee Spencer said the event highlights the creative connections between visual art and floral design.
"We are excited to host this event at MoFA. Art in Bloom celebrates the generative power of artistic dialogue: how a creative act in one medium can inspire, transform and expand into another," said Spencer. "We are thrilled to share these floral creations alongside original watercolors, inviting guests to experience the conversation that emerges between paintings and floral design. That exchange between artists, materials and forms of expression is at the heart of what we foster here at the museum. Every ticket purchased helps support the museum's exhibitions, programming and collections all year long."
As presenting sponsor of Art in Bloom, Tallahassee Nurseries is providing both financial support and floral expertise to help bring MoFA's inaugural celebration to life.
"We are excited to be involved with an event that showcases the artistry growing in our area and cultivates the community's connection with the arts. Our floral designers' creativity shines at every event or occasion, so we are delighted to see their bespoke designs displayed alongside the works of other talented florists and local artists," said Melissa Hutchinson, social media and outreach manager for Tallahassee Nurseries.
Founded in 1938, Tallahassee Nurseries has served the Big Bend community for decades and was recognized by Southern Living as the South's best garden shop.
Additional support for Art in Bloom is provided by event co-chairs Cricket Mannheimer and Jonathan Klepper; platinum sponsors Glenn and Mary Cole; and gold sponsors Thomas and Jayme Ice, Doug and Cricket Mannheimer, and Sam and Laura Rogers.
Individual tickets are $100, with proceeds supporting the museum's exhibitions and programming. Tickets and sponsorships are available at one.fsu.edu/ArtInBloom.
After the event, the floral arrangements will be on display free of charge during the museum's regular hours Friday and Saturday, June 12-13.
The Tallahassee Watercolor Society exhibition opens May 28 and runs through July 25. An opening reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. May 28 will include light refreshments and an opportunity to meet some of the featured artists. This reception is free and open to the public.
To learn more about events and exhibitions at MoFA and to plan your visit, go to MoFA.fsu.edu.
