“Ed Mell: Legacy in Light” Brings the Drama of the Desert to The James Museum this September
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Stephanie Adamo
Director of Marketing
727.892.4200 ext.1037
stephanie.adamo@thejamesmuseum.org
Sarah Richardson
Communications Associate
727.892.4200 ext.1025
sarah.richardson@thejamesmuseum.org
Ed Mell: Legacy in Light Brings the Drama of the Desert to The James Museum this September
Limited-time pop-up features nine vivid works, including rarely seen loans making their James Museum debut
July 23, 2026 – St. Petersburg, FL – This fall, the sharp canyon walls and striking skies of the American Southwest are taking over a portion of The James Museum’s Frontier Gallery. The limited-time artist spotlight, Ed Mell: Legacy in Light, opens September 19, 2026, and runs through January 10, 2027. The installation brings nine original works of art to The James, featuring several loans making their first appearance in the galleries. Visitors will experience the late artist’s dynamic style, which balances exaggerated realism with bold, geometric abstraction.
Ed Mell (1942–2024) spent 50 years interpreting the Western landscape. Using intense light and deep shadows, his work elevates desert landforms into explosive moments of energy across a variety of media. This art spotlight will feature oil paintings with sweeping horizons as in Desert Expanse and the rich florals of Nocturne Bloom, alongside his figurative bronze sculpture Procession.
“This spotlight expands our understanding of Western American Art through Mell’s modernist lens,” said Emily Kapes, Chief Curator at The James Museum. “He used exaggerated angles and shading in a mesmerizing way to show the moving energy of a thunderstorm or the details of a cactus flower. Seeing these pieces brought together for a limited time gives new visitors and our members a fresh perspective at The James.”
Mell’s road to becoming a fine art icon began far from the desert, climbing the advertising ranks in New York City as a young commercial designer. The turning point came in the 1970s during a stint teaching art on the Hopi reservation. The sweeping Arizona vistas changed his perspective, prompting him to trade his commercial illustration desk for a fine art easel in Phoenix. His subsequent career earned him massive acclaim, resulting in major commissions for public art and a U.S. postage stamp design.
The James Museum’s online special promotion continues through the end of September for early visitors to Legacy in Light. Adult tickets purchased online through September 30, 2026, are available for a discounted price of $19. To secure tickets in advance, visit thejamesmuseum.org.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- The Experience: A limited-time art spotlight showcasing nine masterworks by contemporary Western art giant Ed Mell, known for his unique blend of sharp geometric realism and desert abstraction.
- Rare Opportunity: Features several loans making their James Museum debut.
- Variety of Media: Highlights Mell’s multi-disciplinary mastery, spanning vivid oil paintings, intricate pastels, and dynamic bronze sculptures.
- Early-Bird Deal: Visitors can take advantage of a limited-time $19 adult ticket special when purchasing online through September 30, 2026.
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About The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art
The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art provides experiences that inspire human connection and transformation through art depicting the peoples, landscapes, and history of the American West, and wildlife of the world. More than 400 premier works of art including sculpture, paintings and jewelry are on display in the museum’s 26,000 square feet of gallery space. The museum engages the community through programs and educational opportunities, for all ages, that bring our history to life and amplify voices that are not often at the forefront of mainstream Western art. When The James Museum opened in April 2018 it became one of the newest additions to St. Petersburg’s thriving arts community.