502 Gallery is proud to present Sarasota artist and designer John Pirman in his upcoming solo exhibition, Talk of the Town, opening in November 2026. A longtime Sarasota resident, Pirman has developed a distinctive visual language that blends the precision of graphic design with the sensibility of fine art. Influenced by Swiss design, mid-century modernism, WPA-era posters, and popular culture, his work transforms familiar places, architecture, and characters into sophisticated compositions of color, shape, pattern, and line.

After studying graphic design and illustration at Kent State University and working with designer Paul Rand in Switzerland, he built a celebrated career as a New York–based freelance illustrator, producing work for publications including The New York Times, Vogue, Fortune, and Time, as well as major clients such as Bloomingdale’s, Estée Lauder, American Express, and JetBlue. Since moving to Sarasota, Pirman has turned his keen eye toward the distinctive character of the region, creating images that invite viewers to see familiar Sarasota landmarks and landscapes anew. His 2023 exhibition at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens demonstrated the breadth of this practice, bringing together his illustration, design, and longstanding fascination with Sarasota's natural and architectural identity.

Portrait by Barbara Banks