Artist Chad Mize Brings New Installation, Group Exhibit to FloridaRAMA

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Artist Chad Mize continues to expand his relationship with FloridaRAMA, including Randomize, a new permanent immersive room, and Realm, an interdisciplinary group exhibition he’s curated in the gallery.

Realm, his fourth curated show in collaboration with FloridaRAMA, 2606 Fairfield Ave. S., opens Friday, 7 to 10 p.m.

Subscribe

The invitation-only exhibit is on display through June 28, for LGBTQ+ pride month, and most of the artists identify as part of that community, he told Patch.

His previous FloridaRAMA shows were called Bliss, Maze and Advent.

“I like to do the one-word titles,” Mize told Patch. “They just come to me. And I have a list going, but I usually go with what I’m feeling at the moment.”

The world “realm” jumped out at him at the start of the year.

“I was just thinking of us living in this world of kingdoms, and with the Trump administration, the realm of a kingdom,” he said.

Of course, he let his participating artists interpret the word anyway they wanted.

“It was kind of open-ended,” Mize said. “There are many definitions and usages of realm — the digital realm, fantasy realm. They could take it wherever they want. But my underlying theme is being under the realm of a kingdom.”

The show features the works of about 28 artists, including Calan Ree, Saumitra Chandratreya and Wasil.

In addition to Friday’s opening celebration, other special events organized around the exhibit include the May 16 Voices in the Realm evening of poetry and an artist talk on June 13. Both events are from 6 to 8 p.m.

Mize’s immersive installation Randomize is one of two set to open May 15 at FloridaRAMA.

The second installation, three sculptural works by Brigitte Coover displayed throughout the venue, deepens its evolving narrative of Mermaidia, a mythical underwater civilization tied to its Mermaid Star Motel storyline.

Randomize replaces FloridaRAMA’s diorama room, which was part of the venue’s experience since it opened in 2021, Mize said. The dioramas will now be relocated throughout the space.

FloridaRAMA gave the artist “the freedom to do what I want,” he said.

He created a fully immersive 360-degree installation. The room-sized work blends murals, wallpaper, graphics, lighting, sound and an original scent.

“So, all the senses are tapped,” Mize said.

The title of the room, Randomize, is a nod to its design “being kind of all my styles interwoven together,” he said.

And visitors to the room will experience his art on every inch of the room — even on the floor and ceiling.

“It’s kind of like a funhouse trip,” Mize said.

As for the designs included, he carefully chose the images he included, he said. “One of the things I didn’t want to do was be thematic in Florida. I wanted to be true to my own style, which does sometimes reference Florida. So, there are some flamingos in there.”

After its opening, FloridaRAMA will create a game connected to the room, as well as a full line of merchandise - socks, hats, prints, gift wrap - inspired by the installation.

Mize will also host a June 13 dance party in the Randomized Room following his artist talk for Realm that evening.

FloridaRAMA CEO Liz Dimmitt said the project fits the venue’s goal of helping artists expand their practice.

“Chad has built a remarkable career creating bold visual work,” she said. “With Randomize, we challenged him to take his recognizable style and expand it into a transportive, multi-sensory environment. This is what FloridaRAMA does best. We give artists the space, tools and support to level up their work and create something they have never done before.”