“Patience and Peace” gallery opening in Sarasota’s artisan district

“Patience and Peace” gallery opening in Sarasota’s artisan district

 By Jack Pagano
Jack@thetampapost.com

Sarasota, FL — The Sarasota arts community welcomes a new moment of reflection and beauty as artist Susan Leever McLeod unveils her latest exhibition, Patience and Peace, a collection that invites viewers to slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with the quiet strength found in stillness.

Presented as part of the Andrew Ford Fine Arts Gallery collection, the exhibition highlights McLeod’s contemplative approach to painting and her commitment to creating work that restores, steadies, and gently reawakens the senses.

Hosted in a Sarasota gallery space long known for championing local and regional artists, the opening celebrates McLeod’s distinctive ability to blend emotional resonance with visual serenity. Her new works explore the subtle interplay between time, healing, and the natural world — themes that have become hallmarks of her artistic voice.

Susan Leever McLeod’s art opening work reminds us of tall trees and spacious skies. April 4, 2026 (photo by Jack Pagano)

Photos from the opening captured the warm, intimate atmosphere of the evening, as guests moved slowly through the gallery, pausing to take in the quiet depth of each piece.

A wild butterfly captures Susan Leever McLeod’s spirit at the “Patience and Peace” gallery in Sarasota, Florida. April 4, 2026 (photo by Jack Pagano)

Patience and Peace features a series of paintings that balance softness with intention. Through layered textures, gentle palettes, and meditative compositions, McLeod offers a visual sanctuary amid the noise of everyday life. Each piece encourages viewers to linger, to notice, and to rediscover the restorative power of quiet observation.

Guests at the opening had the opportunity to meet Susan, hear her insights into the creative process, and experience the collection in a setting designed to echo the exhibition’s themes of calm and contemplation.

A volley of imagery that showcases the “Patience and Peace” gallery in Sarasota, Florida’s art district. April 4, 2026 (photo by Jack Pagano)

Artist’s Reflection

In a soft, thoughtful voice, McLeod shared: “These paintings are my way of honoring the moments that ask us to pause, breathe, and let things unfold in their own time. In the studio, I work slowly. I layer color, remove it, and return to it again. That rhythm — the back and forth, the waiting, the willingness to let the work reveal itself — became the heart of this series. Each piece holds traces of that process: the stillness, the searching, the small decisions that accumulate into something calm and grounded.”

Susan is a veteran of the art gallery wars in the Sarasota area.  She’s been displaying her unique art since the 1970’s.   Susan hopes these works offer viewers a place to rest their eyes and their minds — a place to linger without urgency. A place where peace is not distant or abstract, but something felt in the softness of a line, the shift of a color, the quiet of an open space.

She wants Florida to invest in art in a big way “We must have a stronger focus on the arts and art history.  It’s important to know your history.

Susan Leever McLeod says this is her favorite work of art. Vibrant eyes tell a story. A picture is worth a thousand words. April 4, 2026 (photo by Jack Pagano)

McLeod’s work has long resonated with audiences seeking art that speaks to both the heart and the senses.  Patience and Peace continues that tradition, offering a timely reminder of the beauty that emerges when we allow ourselves to be still.

“Art is the soul of the community,” she says with a beaming smile, as she warmly ushers in a line of art lovers gathered outside — each one eager to step into her world of patience and peace.

The Patience and Peace gallery exhibit runs until May 2, 2026. For more information or to RSVP, please visit: SusanLeeverMcLeod.net

Susan Leever McLeod’s endearing work showcases vivid colors and tapestry. April 4, 2026 (photo by Jack Pagano)

Jack Pagano is a retired Army field grade officer with many decades of Information Operations experience and currently working remotely in the USA as COO/Strategist for one of Afghanistan’s biggest Radio/TV networks.  His current mission is getting out Afghan journalists he trained, and mentored who are stuck, stranded under the Sharia-driven Taliban.