You don’t expect to find transformation while paying a bill, attending a commission meeting, or waiting in line at the health department. Yet ‘Opening New Doors’ Exhibit does exactly that interrupting the routine of the county administration building with art that asks viewers to pause, reflect, and see differently. Presented through the St. Johns Cultural Council’s Art in Public Spaces program, the exhibition brings together Brandon Santiago and Alexter Albury, two artists whose practices sit at opposite ends of the visual spectrum. They met in 2021 at St. Augustine’s first Juneteenth art show, an encounter that sparked both friendship and creative dialogue. What followed is a collaboration rooted in contrast. Santiago’s work leans into abstraction, where layered paint and mixed media translate emotion, memory, and change. His pieces feel fluid and unresolved, echoing a city, and a self, constantly evolving. Albury counters with realism, approaching his work with precision and clarity. His paintings are grounded and intentional, capturing people and places with a steady, observant hand. Together, their work traces a timeline of growth. Opening New Doors will be on display at Rotunda Gallery in the St. Johns County Administration Building, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., through April 10, and is free and open to the public.
500 San Sebastian View
