Marianne Chapel is an artist, curator, and nonprofit arts leader based in Sarasota, Florida. She is the founder and director of SPAACES, a nonprofit contemporary art organization known for supporting artists through exhibitions, affordable studio space, and experimental programming.
As both a working artist and curator, Marianne Chapel brings an artist centered perspective to everything she creates through SPAACES. Her experience navigating the realities of maintaining a creative practice directly informs the organization’s mission to support contemporary artists in meaningful and practical ways.
Marianne Chapel founded SPAACES after recognizing a lack of accessible studio space and opportunities for ambitious contemporary art in the Sarasota area. What began as an independent artist driven initiative has grown into an established nonprofit organization serving artists and the public through exhibitions, lectures, artist studios, and collaborative cultural programming.
Alongside her role as founder of SPAACES, Marianne Chapel maintains an active studio practice. With a background in traditional figurative painting, her work has evolved to incorporate sculpture, installation, and interdisciplinary approaches rooted in storytelling and symbolism. Chapel is particularly drawn to invented figuration, narrative imagery, and artwork that has the potential to inspire social change.
Through her leadership at SPAACES, Marianne Chapel has helped create a platform where artists can develop ambitious work while building sustainable creative careers. Today, she is recognized for her contributions to Sarasota’s contemporary art community through nonprofit leadership, curatorial work, artist advocacy, and her ongoing commitment to supporting working artists.