Ana Sofia Perez, next to her artwork, “Quincunce”, at the Collegiate Student Art Showcase at the John and Mabel Ringling Museum of Art. Photo courtesy of Ana Sofia Perez.
By Isabella Ferrou
TAMPA, Fla. – As a little girl, Ana Sofia Perez, a junior at The University of Tampa studying graphic design with a minor in advertising, always dreamed of having her art work highlighted in a museum. She imagined herself displaying her pieces once becoming a seasoned and independent artist, recognizing the competitive nature of the industry.
But at just 21 years old, Perez, an international student from Panama, has not only showcased her work at the collegiate level, but has exhibited it in a museum in the United States.
On April 2, 2026, she presented her painting , “Quincunce”, at the Collegiate Student Art Showcase held at the John and Mabel Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota. The exhibition was part of Ringling Underground, which featured live music, food, and drinks, in addition to artwork for students and art enthusiasts to enjoy.
Graduate and undergraduate students from North Florida and the Tampa Bay region, including the University of South Florida (USF), Florida State University (FSU), and Eckerd College, displayed their work at tables sprinkled throughout the circus-turned art museum for visitors to admire. There were 11 college artists in total, with two students selected to represent each participating school.
The John and Mabel Ringling Museum of Art which was founded by circus entrepreneur John Ringling, making Sarasota known as the “Circus Capital of the World. Photo courtesy of Ana Sofia Perez.
Each student brought different genres of creative art work including photography, sculptures, paintings and even a piece depicted on a TV screen. Perez’s painting was made entirely out of puzzle pieces, a very extensive process that took her over a month to complete.
Perez received this opportunity through Utampa’s art department, which alerted students to the possibility of being featured in the college exhibition at Ringling Underground. Not thinking much of it, Perez applied and was very surprised she was selected to spotlight “Quincunce”.
“So I just applied and had to fill out a form, send one of my pieces, and then I received an email a couple weeks later saying that I was the one selected,” Perez said.
“Quincunce”, or Quincux in English, is a geometric pattern representing movement and energy in Guna art. It is commonly found in textile panels created by Guna women of Panama and Colombia, known for their vibrant and intricate designs.
Perez’s piece honors this cultural pattern while also highlighting climate change in Panama. The island of Cartí Sugdub in the Guna Yala archipelago is already becoming unlivable as rising sea levels continue to flood the land. By 2050, many Caribbean islands are expected to disappear. The painting illustrates a Guna person on a canoe fleeing their home with a “Quincunce” symbol overlaying the image.
The people of Carti Sugbub became the first refugees in Latin America to relocate due to climate change. Over 300 families were transferred to Isber Yala, a new settlement on the mainland that does not align with their customs or way of life. Perez aimed to highlight environmental issues, a topic she finds especially meaningful as they continue to impact her home country.
“As a third world country we often go overlooked, and we do have a lot of issues that are very relevant and that people should be speaking about so it’s always nice to bring light to global warming and represent my country,” Perez said.
Perez’s painting illustrates a Guna person on a cannon fleeing their home with a “Quincunce” symbol laying overtop. Photo courtesy of Ana Sofia Perez.
Her focus on raising awareness was reflected by her presentation at the exhibition, where she ensured her pieces were displayed in a way that matched her message.
However, the exhibition was not without challenges.
Perez faced technical difficulties displaying her work, as her pieces were the largest in the showcase and the available easels were too small to properly support them.
“The two initial easels that they gave me were not working, so we really had to come up with a creative and different way to display my work, so that it was still doing justice to the piece, and it wasn’t just laying on the floor,” said Perez.
Once everything was in place, Perez arranged her table with QR codes linking to her art Instagram account, @averageartsy, business cards, a brief description of her work, and a sign listing her name, the artwork title, style, and school.
Visitors could scan, read, and take materials to connect with Perez and explore her work beyond the showcase. Photo courtesy of Ana Sofia Perez.
Throughout the event, students and art enthusiasts approached Perez’s table. Perez said many were surprised to learn how climate change is impacting Caribbean islands, particularly Cartí Sugdub, which is projected to disappear within the next 24 years. As visitors continued to engage with her work, Perez began to realize the professional opportunities the exhibition offered.
“they were curators for different galleries, they were owners of galleries, and they would be interested in showing work like mine, which was such an amazing opportunity to make connections,” said Perez.
Perez explained her work to guests who wanted to learn more about the piece. Photo courtesy of Ana Sofia Perez.
Perez was surprised to see several loved ones in attendance and said their presence made the moment even more meaningful.
“Since the show was in Sarasota and late on a weekday, I wasn’t expecting many people to come. So having my sister, best friend and boyfriend drive from Tampa and even leave work early to be there meant a lot and it really showed how much they love and support me,” said Perez.
Ben Fiscelli, a sophomore at UTampa studying sociology and psychology, was in attendance to support his girlfriend.
“I was very proud of Sofy for what she is accomplishing, and I know she was working really hard so I think she deserves it more than anybody,” said Fiscelli.
Ben Fiscelli showing his support to celebrate Perez’s recent accomplishment. Photo courtesy of Ana Sofia Perez.
As the event wound down around 11 p.m., Perez reflected on how the experience influenced her change in perspective on her professional career.
“Getting that opportunity really opened my eyes and made me reconsider exploring painting in the future and incorporating it more into my practice, rather than only focusing on graphic design,” said Perez.
As for freshmen who might be interested in being featured in an exhibition, Perez said she encourages everyone to take initiative and share their work, even if they feel uncertain about the outcome. She emphasized that stepping outside of one’s comfort zone can lead to unexpected opportunities that will shape both personal growth and future creative paths.
“I think just putting yourself out there is the most important thing, and don’t be scared of failing, because you never know the amazing opportunities you can get,” said Perez.