TAMPA, FLA.- The Tampa Museum of Art announced that the fan-favorite sculpture, Aphrodite Reimagined, is officially accessioned into the Museum’s permanent collection. The ten-foot sculpture by artist Patricia Cronin is the perfect representation of the Museum’s collections. More significantly, it demonstrates the institution’s commitment to ancient and contemporary art and its dedication to building its permanent collection of sculptures.

Completing the acquisition of this significant work of art was possible with the support of gifts from the Vinik Family Foundation, Jim and Celia Ferman, and other generous contributions from the community, funds from Tampa Collects, and a gift in part by the artist in honor of the 100th anniversaries of the Women’s Suffrage Movement and the Tampa Museum of Art. Now with certainty, Aphrodite Reimagined will be a symbol of Tampa Bay’s commitment to art and culture for generations to come.

“Aphrodite Reimagined exemplifies the bridging of the two branches of the Museum’s permanent collection: classical antiquity and contemporary art,” said Michael Tomor, the Penny and Jeff Vinik Executive Director of the Tampa Museum of Art. “This work highlights the strengths of both collections and shows how objects from antiquity and today connect in thoughtful, relevant dialogues.”

Speaking to the inspiration behind Aphrodite Reimagined, Cronin said that the work “acts as a metaphor for our shifting certainties about history. It shows how our understanding of history changes as more research by scholars and discoveries from archaeological excavations come to light.”

In honor of the completed acquisition of this work and the 2018 exhibition that brought this work to Tampa, the Tampa Museum of Art will release a publication in May 2021 titled Patricia Cronin, Aphrodite, and the Lure of Antiquity: Conversations with the Collection.

To celebrate how Greek history and culture continue to impact our present-day lives, the Tampa Museum of Art will premiere Opa! A Celebration of Greek Independence on March 25 at 11 am EDT. With support from members of the Tampa Bay area Greek community, the presentation highlights the intersection between the 200th anniversary of Greek independence and the 100th anniversary of the Tampa Museum of Art through works of art in the Museum’s permanent collection. Viewers can also look forward to a featured dance performance, poetry reading, and messages that unite Tarpon Springs, the City of Tampa, and Tampa’s sister city Heraklion, Crete, Greece. Tune in online to watch this video celebration on the Museum’s Facebook and YouTube channels.