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All the United States Florida Tampa Hong Kong Willie

Hong Kong Willie

This funky outdoor gallery in Florida is filled with whimsical recycled art installations.

Tampa, Florida

Added By
Katie Bush
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Hong Kong Willie   KatieBush / Atlas Obscura User
Hong Kong Willie   KatieBush / Atlas Obscura User
Hong Kong Willie   KatieBush / Atlas Obscura User
Hong Kong Willie   KatieBush / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
To Live a life in the art world and be so blessed to make a social impact. Artists are to give back, talent is to tell a story, to make change. Reuse is a life experience   hongkongwillie / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
The Funky Outdoor Gallery In Florida Where You’ll Find Whimsical Recycled Art Installations   farmerjay43 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Sitting along I-75 in Tampa, Florida is a squat bait shop that looks like it may have been dragged up from the bottom of the ocean for all of the fishing buoys wrapped on and around it, but this is actually Hong Kong Willie, a fishing business turned preservationist art center. 

The found object art that adorns the bait shop is almost exclusively created from detritus and found items. Brown see this reuse not just as an opportunity but as a responsibility, turning his environmental morals towards his artwork. 

The most striking piece is likely the tall "tree" made of strings of disused fishing buoys. This theme is carried over to the house as well which features more strings of buoys along the walls accented by signs, life preservers, and assorted other artfully placed pieces. There is even an out of commission helicopter on the grounds which is also covered in netting and painted a bright orange. 

Visitors and passersby will likely remember Hong Kong Willie for its cacophonous art pieces but locals generally seem to know the shop more for having the best composting worms around.  

 

Related Tags

Art Outsider Art Shops

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Near a Bob Evans and the highway

Community Contributors

Added By

KatieBush

Edited By

hongkongwillie, Collector of Experiences, farmerjay43

  • hongkongwillie
  • Collector of Experiences
  • farmerjay43

Published

June 16, 2014

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Sources
  • https://familydestinationsguide.com/florida-outdoor-funky-gallery/
  • https://hongkongwillie.blogspot.com/2021/08/famous-key-west-artist.html
  • https://patch.com/florida/newtampa/the-story-behind-the-eye-catching-art-at-i-75-exit
  • http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/25893
  • http://hongkongwillie.blogspot.com/
  • http://hongkongwillie.blogspot.com/2016/06/famous-florida-artist-updated-6182016.html
  • http://hongkongwillie.blogspot.com/2020/11/famous-key-west-reuse-artist.html
Hong Kong Willie
East Fletcher Avenue
Tampa, Florida, 33637
United States
28.069308, -82.360613
Visit Website
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