Chad Mize is exceptional in any year. As a longtime friend, colleague and employee of his, I have seen all facets of this exceptional human being.
2020 started as a normal year, smashing attendance records at the January and February openings of MIZE Gallery. Then came COVID, and as all progressive thinkers do, Chad worked outside the box.
He live streamed openings on multiple social media platforms each month for buyers and browsers to look 24/7. He designed all of the promotional materials for each of his shows and promoted it further with an online gallery for each exhibit.
Art sales increased, allowing local and national artists represented to earn money, even during this tough time. There have been 26 exhibits in 2020, one without commission, promoting 287 artists. Chad does not always participate in the shows, but does have merchandise available in the gallery, as it consistently sells. Among them are various art pieces, enamel pins, mini murals, masks, T-shirts, and more.
He works by commission for private individuals and businesses and has completed more than a dozen murals in 2020, like at Cycle Brewing, The Saint and Bodega to name a few. He is on the Shine Mural Festival team and participated in Gasparilla, Carmada, Rock the Vote and held the only area Pride show in 2020 with “Don’t Ask, Do Tell.”
He also designed a shirt for the Straz Center, put his Mr. Sun logo on an area bus and organized the program to cover electrical boxes throughout St. Petersburg with art by local artists, including his own.
MIZE Gallery is my gallery and my art is shown there with enthusiasm. His partner Dan opened Uptown Eats next door and his colleague Reneata Griffin opened Neat Neat Neat on the other side, completing the trifecta of gifts, art and food.
Chad always works harder than anyone I have ever met. He is an egoless leader and gives back, making himself available to all. He is true to his motto: Make Time. Chad loves St. Pete and has made it the art town that it is today. I am proud to call him my friend.
To view the full list of Watermark’s Most Remarkable People of 2020, click here.
