Soul Tides
A shoppable art exhibition at the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center
Artist Cora Van Vleet invites you to experience Soul Tides, a multimedia art exhibition that reimagines local wildlife through a surreal, immersive lens, combining lush color, texture, and layered narratives to invite viewers into the rich, often overlooked environments of Florida’s native ecosystems.
Where: This exhibition will be open to the public daily and is included with admission tickets to the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center.
When: July 16th - October 16th, 2026
All artworks will be available for purchase. A portion of proceeds will benefit Tampa Bay Watch’s mission to protect and restore the bay’s estuarine ecosystem.
About the Artist
Cora Van Vleet is an interdisciplinary artist based in St. Petersburg, Florida. Working across recycled textile sculpture and multi-media painting, her artistic practice explores the relationship between human experience and the environment—both its beauty and its vulnerability.
Her work is rooted in a surreal and immersive aesthetic, where elements of Florida’s ecosystems are reimagined in dreamlike or slightly disorienting contexts. Through this lens, Cora aims to shift perspectives, encouraging viewers to see themselves not as separate from nature, but as participants within it.
Sustainability is both a material and conceptual foundation of Cora’s work. She transforms recycled textiles and discarded materials into organic, evolving forms in her artwork. By repurposing these materials, she seeks both critique and reimagine cycles of waste, offering an alternative vision rooted in care and renewal.
Ultimately, Cora’s work aims to leave a lasting impression, both emotional and reflective. By blending storytelling, material awareness, and immersive visual language, she hopes to inspire a deeper appreciation for the ecosystems that define our region, and a more mindful relationship with the environments we inhabit.
Click here to visit Cora’s website.
Opening Night
Thursday, July 16th, 2026
5:00 - 7:30 PM
Join us for the opening of Soul Tides, a multimedia art exhibition that reimagines local wildlife through a surreal, immersive lens, combining lush color, texture, and layered narratives to invite viewers into the
rich, often overlooked environments of Florida’s native ecosystems.
Enjoy wine, beer, hors d'oeuvres, and a special artist talk at 6:00 PM in our outdoor pavilion (weather permitting).
Be among the first to view and purchase Cora’s stunning works, with a portion of proceeds supporting Tampa Bay Watch’s mission to protect and restore our estuarine ecosystem.
Space is limited, so reserve your tickets early at the link below.
