Our Story
Who We Are
Browardart.com was launched in 2018 by a group of Fort Lauderdale locals passionate about elevating Broward County's dynamic art scene. Our founder, Elena Vasquez, a former curator at the NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale, spotted a gap: while Miami steals the spotlight with Art Basel, Broward boasts over 200 galleries, studios, and public art installations that often fly under the radar. Our mission? To demystify Broward art for collectors, enthusiasts, artists, and newcomers, providing unbiased intel to help you discover, buy, exhibit, or create without the hype or hard sell.
In 2026, with Broward hosting 15 major art events annually (including the Broward Art Guild's annual festival drawing 50,000 visitors), we're more vital than ever. We've guided over 100,000 users to local gems like the FATVillage Creative District, where street art murals by artists like XPX and 2Tall have transformed warehouses into vibrant canvases.
What We Do
Our team of 12 art historians, local critics, and digital curators (many NSU alumni or members of the Broward Cultural Council) produces hyper-local content tailored to Broward's unique ecosystem:
In-Depth Guides: From 'Top 10 Underrated Galleries in Hollywood' (spotlighting spots like the Hollywood Art and Culture Center's 2026 Rothko retrospective) to 'Navigating NSU Art Museum's 7,500+ Collection' with interactive floor plan tools.
Independent Reviews: No sponsored fluff. We critiqued the 2026 Coral Springs Museum of Art exhibit on Florida Highwaymen painters, rating it 4.5/5 for authenticity while noting parking woes. Our 2025 review of the Riverwalk Arts Festival influenced 20% more attendance per our analytics.
Free Tools:
- Event Finder: Real-time calendar pulling from 50+ venues, filtering by medium (e.g., sculpture at Sculpture Park in Davie) or price (free First Fridays at Main Street Art Gallery in Pompano Beach).
- Art Price Checker: Compares 2026 auction data from Broward sales, for example a local ceramicist's piece fetched $2,800 at the 2026 Fort Lauderdale Art Fair vs. $1,200 in 2024.
- Artist Directory: 1,500+ profiles with contact info, like reaching out to muralist Purvis Young heirs for commissions.
- Collection Builder Wizard: Input budget ($500-$50K) and style (e.g., contemporary Haitian influences from Little Haiti ties), get personalized recs like buying from Gallery One in Ft. Lauderdale.
Expert Analysis: Data dives, such as our 2026 report showing Broward public art ROI: $1.2M in tourism from 300+ murals, sourced from Broward County Cultural Division stats. Interviews with uts-pros like 2026 Guggenheim Fellow from Deerfield Beach.
Our Standards
Independence
Zero pay-for-play. We fund via ads from neutral partners (e.g., art supply stores) and memberships ($5/month for premium tools). Last year, we turned down a $10K gallery promo deal to review their subpar 2026 show honestly.
Accuracy
Facts cross-checked with primaries: Broward Cultural Council reports, NSU archives, auction houses like Michaan's. Content refreshes quarterly, for example the updated 2026 gallery map post-Hurricane Milton repairs. All changes logged with timestamps and sources.
Transparency
Dive into our review methodology (weighted 40% curation quality, 30% accessibility, 30% innovation). Full source library with 500+ links. Conflicts? Rare, but disclosed, like our founder's NSU board advisory role (recused from their reviews).
Why Broward Art in 2026?
Broward's scene exploded post-2020: 25% gallery growth per county data, fueled by hybrid events blending virtual tours with IRL pop-ups. Handy tips:
- For Buyers: Start at FATVillage's third Thursdays (free parking, $200-5K originals). Negotiate 10-20% off (2026 data shows 65% success rate).
- For Artists: Submit to Broward Art Exhibition by March 31 via our wizard; 40% acceptance last year.
- Hidden Gems: Bonnet House Museum's sculpture garden (free Mondays) or Pembroke Pines' street art trail (self-guided app via our tool).
- Events: Catch NuLu in Dania Beach's 2026 fiber arts fest (tickets $15, VIP $50 with artist meetups).
Pro Tip: Use our 'Art Walk Optimizer' to chain 5 galleries in 2 hours, saving $20 on Ubers.
Our Impact
Users report 30% more art purchases post-site use (2026 survey, n=1,200). We've spotlighted 50 emerging artists, landing 15 gallery deals. Featured in Sun-Sentinel and 2026 Artforum.
Get in Touch
Question on commissioning a custom piece from a Weston sculptor? Suggestion for Wilton Manors coverage? Correction on Deerfield's 2026 mural map? Email team@browardart.com or tweet @browardart. Response in 24-48 hours.
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