Stage Set for Thrilling New Artis—Naples Season 2024-25 Season

Alexander Shelley

From engaging new exhibitions at The Baker Museum and poignant Naples Philharmonic performances to soul tributes, high-energy jazz and the eagerly anticipated return of the Naples International Film Festival (NIFF), the Artis—Naples late summer and fall programming offers something for everyone. The 2025-26 season marks Alexander Shelley’s second year as Sharon and Timothy Ubben Artistic and Music Director and celebrates America’s upcoming 250th anniversary through the theme of America 250: E Pluribus Unum—Out of Many, One.

CeCe Teneal

Before the season officially begins, summer programming offers a preview of the energy to come. On August 7, The Bob Band brings a spirited tribute to Bob Dylan’s folk, rock and blues legacy. On August 19, powerhouse vocalist CeCe Teneal honors legends like Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner and Gladys Knight in Divas of Soul. And on August 28, pianist Konstantin Soukhovetski of Grand Piano Series presents Narrative Musicales: Rachmaninoff & Scriabin—a multimedia exploration of the
composers intertwined lives, featuring storytelling, historical footage and dramatic solo works.

The Baker Museum Exhibition Entangled in the Mangroves.

October ushers in a wide range of new exhibitions at The Baker Museum. Tamara de Lempicka, a major retrospective of the Polish artist who helped define Art Deco, opens with works spanning her early years in 1920s Paris to her final days in the
U.S. and Mexico. It is the first American museum retrospective of her work—an exciting reintroduction to an artist admired by the likes of Madonna and Jack Nicholson. Also in October, Florida Contemporary returns in expanded form, featuring four Florida-based artists: Orlando’s Boy Kong—the youngest ever featured in the series—Naples’ own Mally Khoransantchi, Miami painter Reginald O’Neil and multimedia artist Jillian Mayer, who’s whimsical Slumpies invite interactive play. Two additional exhibitions continue into the fall: Entangled in the Mangroves, addressing environmental challenges in the Everglades, and In the Making, which explores the evolution of artistic process.

NIFF The Princess Bride in Concert

That same month, the Naples International Film Festival returns October 23-26, with screenings on the Kimberly K. Querrey and Louis A. Simpson Cultural Campus and at Alamo Drafthouse in Mercato. A red-carpet opening night and party launch the festival, which concludes with a celebratory screening of The Princess Bride in Concert, featuring the Naples Philharmonic under the baton of Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly.

October also offers a full slate of musical performances. The Naples Philharmonic opens its Masterworks series with Montero Plays Rachmaninoff on October 30 and November 1, conducted by Alexander Shelley with pianist Gabriela Montero. Other October highlights include Bernstein & Beyond, part of the Wang Chamber Music series, and Ehnes Plays Mozart, a Sypert Salon chamber music program featuring violinist and Artis—Naples Artistic Partner James Ehnes. And on October 15, jazz guitarist Bobby Broom brings his signature style—melding bebop, post-bop, funk and soul—to Daniels Pavilion for an electrifying solo performance.

From museum galleries and performance stages to the silver screen, Artis—Naples sets the stage for a dynamic season filled with creativity, connection and discovery.

Tickets and additional details can be found at ArtisNaples.org

Artis-Naples – Home of The Baker Museum & Naples Philharmonic