Bradenton is truly a home for the arts, where you can find many local creators sharing their awe-inspiring work. Recently, we were lucky enough to catch up with one of the area’s most talented artists, Jeff Riggan.

Jeff recently moved here from Atlanta where he worked for 10 years creating art for TV, film, and museums. He also has a lot of experience working on movie sets and at theme parks. He has been featured in many publications, local and national news, and several TV shows. His many talents include creating sets, sculptures, painted murals, and fabricated large-scale artwork.

His resume includes building multiuse television sets for Nickelodeon shows and sculpting intricate and grand attractions for Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and Halloween Horror Nights. He also carved huge buildings out of foam for Wonderworks in Panama City Beach.

After the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the movie industry, Jeff decided to move to Bradenton and start a new adventure. Though he misses working with heavy equipment and making “larger than life” art, he is now focused on creating art that makes him happy.

He says he loves how friendly the people of Bradenton are and how they welcomed him and his business to the area. Whenever he goes to the Riverwalk or stops by a local tavern, he always seems to make new friends. 

Jeff runs his company “Monster Art Studio” with his wife. He also formed the Gulf Coast Art and Mural Company in 2020 after he moved here. A lot of Jeff’s work is made using upcycled materials, like old fencing. He loves the idea of being able to preserve a little bit of Bradenton’s history in his works. He creates one-of-a-kind custom artwork and specializes in murals.

Since moving here, he has painted a mural at the side of The Beach Shop in Cortez and a large polar bear scene in the bathroom of Wicked Awesome Ice Cream at Lakewood Ranch. He’s also currently working on a new piece in the Cortez Fishing Village.

You can also find his work at The Beach Market at Coquina Beach, The Beach Shop on Cortez Rd. W., and the Bradenton Farmers Market. When you see his art, you’ll immediately notice how it draws people in and reaches out to the world. Jeff has a passion for turning trash into treasure and breathing new life into old materials. His work is a show stopper, and you won’t want to miss it!

Jeff is looking to create a buzz around town and share his talent and abilities. He’s open to creating a custom piece of artwork for your home or murals for your business or the local community. You can contact him at (404) 200-1594 or email monsterartstudio@hotmail.com. To check out more of his work and keep up on what he’s doing, follow him on Facebook and on Instagram @gulfcoastartmuralco and @monstertartstudio. You can also learn more about his professional history by checking out his website: Monster Art Studio.

When you reach out to him for a project (and we hope you will), don’t forget to tell him you heard about it on Discover Bradenton!