PANAMA CITY, FL. (WMBB) — The Florida Luxe Art Festival (FLLUXE) is back in Panama City this weekend.
Artists from around the world spent Friday making downtown Panama City Colorful. The FLLUXE festival is where artists use chalk or paint on the sidewalks to make visual art. The idea first began after Hurricane Michael and Covid-19 in 2021. Different Designs were created throughout Friday. The Executive Director of Bay Arts Alliance Jason Kretzer says this event is to bring people together.
“Seeing the artists get together, learn from each other, and build those relationships. It just always touches me every year just to see the excitement and smiles and laughter that comes from the event.”
There were over 30 pieces of art at the festival. Kretzer says art was covering the sidewalk from the Panama City Center of The Arts to the Panama City Farmers Market. Kretzer says the artist used a unique style of painting.
“A lot of these artists use a technique like from the ordinary Italian street painters. So they paint on the ground, and we even have some there doing 3D pieces. So when you look through your phone at it, it comes to life.”
If you didn’t get to go Friday then you will have all day tomorrow to come. Everything opens up at 10 a.m. and the event comes to a close at 10 p.m. Aerial dancers, live music, and food will be there. The artist will also be working hard to finish their designs. And local artist Jamie Phillips says she is working on everyone’s favorite doll.
So I’m doing Barbie this year and, you know, I wanted to go for a little bit. I mean, portraits are kind of like my thing anyway.”
The event does come to a close on Saturday night.
For more information about the FLLUXE Arts Festival, click here.