Celebrating 5 Years of Art on the Drive!
“I consider myself very blessed and give thanks each day for the support that I have received from the City of Wilton Manors, its past and present elected officials, my family and this great community that I love dearly and that inspires me to create my art.”
On June 17, 2017—the same day as Wilton Manors’s parade and all-day block party in celebration of Stonewall’s 48th anniversary—Claudia Castillo ART studio first opened its doors to the public on Wilton Drive. Claudia and her studio have come a long way since that day—not only because of her beautiful, internationally exhibited artwork, but also because of the service and volunteer efforts that she offers to the Wilton Manors and Broward County community. When you visit Claudia at her studio, you cannot help but feel happiness and a sense of welcome as her energy and passion are contagious and much needed in today’s world.
She describes Claudia Castillo ART studio as “a boutique art gallery in the heart of Wilton Manors that provides a unique variety of original artwork, gifts, jewelry and collectables.” The studio primarily showcases Claudia’s artwork, but it also gives opportunities to local, national, and international artists to exhibit their work as well. You can lose yourself shopping and exploring her studio and always find something new each time you visit.
Claudia Castillo ART studio was an outgrowth of Claudia’s business Color Designers Company, a decorative-art painting business that she started in 2001. The studio was created to provide the ability to showcase her art in a retail setting. However, just a few months after the studio opened, Claudia underwent back fusion surgery. Running the studio became a physically demanding task day in and day out, but Claudia persevered and continued growing the business—all the while donating her time to city committees, LGBTQ+ groups and other art organizations.
By 2020, Claudia had physically recovered and the studio had become a must-visit destination, but then another challenge struck: the COVID-19 pandemic closed the studio for a period of 3 months. To stay afloat, Claudia painted murals around Wilton Manors, began offering new products and made it easier for clients to buy artwork online. She never lost hope that the studio would survive the pandemic, and sure enough, it reopened in late 2020 and continued to expand its art and retail sales locally and nationally. In 2021, Claudia expanded her artwork further beyond the local community and was invited to exhibit her work internationally in Spain, and Florence, Italy, at the XIII Florence Biennale. In 2022, her work was exhibited in the Netherlands and Switzerland and will be displayed in November in Barcelona.
Claudia is a true inspiration to others with her selfless attitude and service to her community. She volunteers with several local nonprofits, developing and running events such as the Justin Flippen Annual Manatee Contest, which she created with colleague Ron Falk in honor of the late Wilton Manors Mayor Justin Flippen. Last year’s event involved over 600 elementary-school students and raised over $10,000 for the children of Wilton Manors Elementary and Somerset Academy Village in Wilton Manors. The “Rainbow Manatee” sculpture that she created in Flippen’s honor has been recently installed at Justin Flippen Park. Claudia is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Fort Lauderdale LGBT Chamber of Commerce and always finds time to support other local LGBTQ+ businesses in South Florida.
Clearly, the community of Wilton Manors loves Claudia back, as evidenced by all the awards the studio has won in the five short years since its founding. On June 17th, Claudia Castillo was selected by the Business Journal as one of the Journal’s 2022 Diverse Voices. The Diverse Voices Honors Program is part of the South Florida Business Journal’s ongoing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiative honoring two dozen diverse executives for excellence in business and their respective fields. The City of Wilton Manors named Claudia Castillo ART Studio the “Skip Stadnik Community Spirit” Volunteer Organization of the Year for 2022 and proclaimed April 23, 2022, to be “Claudia Castillo ART Studio Day” in Wilton Manors. Claudia was also recognized last December by the Wilton Manors Business Association as the recipient of the 2021 Business Leadership Award. In 2019, Claudia received a City of Wilton Manors proclamation for Women’s History Month recognizing her service to the community. And, Claudia Castillo ART studio was the recipient of the Award for Best Multi-Line Showroom at the 2018 Design Excellence Awards of the American Society of Interior Designers Florida South Chapter.
On June 17, 2022, Claudia Castillo ART Studio celebrated its 5th anniversary. If you haven’t yet checked out this gem of the Wilton Manors community, pay Claudia a visit. She will always welcome you with her contagious smile and beautiful art.
