By Taylor Coffman
Herald Correspondent
After nearly thirty years as a Sanford staple, Jeanine Taylor, founder and owner of Jeanine Taylor Folk Art, has announced her decision to step away from her gallery.
Founded in 1997, Jeanine Taylor Folk Art was born out of Taylor’s fascination with southern folk artists who, unlike the people creating the kind of “fine art” that is usually shown in galleries, have no formal art training. Working at a job in education, Taylor–a native Floridian–was afforded the opportunity to travel the southeastern United States and find folk art at its source.
Over the years, she was able to travel and meet more folk artists face-to-face, a journey that she describes as being “like a treasure hunt” aimed at finding authentic art in unexpected places.
The folk art gallery, which was initially run out of Taylor’s home, got its initial location in Winter Park after she left her former job. Eventually, Jeanine Taylor Folk Art would move to its current location in historic downtown Sanford, a longtime staple of downtown’s artistic, creative vibe and healthy folk art community. The gallery, which has a permanent air of southern hospitality, is
usually focused on highlighting the kind of untrained artists that aren’t usually afforded gallery space. While most of the gallery’s 5,000-square-foot space is dedicated to folk art, they also house a few studios which are rented out to local fine artists, giving guests and collectors “a little bit of everything”, according to Taylor.
Even good things have to end eventually, though, and after spending so long not only running the gallery but also hitting the road to scout more folk art throughout the Southeast, Jeanine Taylor recently announced her decision to step away from the gallery she founded.
“Now I’m at the point where I’m very satisfied with what I’ve done and I’m ready to retire,” said Taylor, who also said that ever since she announced the decision, she’s had guests flooding the gallery to express their love for the place and how they’ll miss the folk art elements of it.
When asked about the future of Jeanine Taylor Folk Art, Taylor explained that starting in 2026, she will be leaving the gallery to her business partner and his wife. While the gallery and its attached studios will remain in operation, it’s likely that guests won’t see as much folk art going forward since Jeanine Taylor, the self-described “folk art person”, is stepping out.
Even as it takes on a new form, Jeanine Taylor Folk Art will remain operational, with events and gallery sales continuing like normal. The main goal for the gallery’s future, according to Taylor, is to preserve the connection between the guests and the artists, as most of the guests want to meet the artists before they buy, whether it’s fine art or folk art.
“We turn the page into a new chapter that we hope will provide just as many beautiful moments as the past three decades have supplied,” said a press release on the gallery’s website.
“Through ups and downs, twists and turns, the reward has always been the fortifying relationships with our artists and community.
”For more updates on Jeanine Taylor Folk Art’s upcoming changes, those interested can contact the gallery at 407-323-2774, [email protected], or visit their website at
https://www.jtfolkart.com/.
