Zagami Fine Art: Fort Lauderdale’s Oldest Fine Art Studio
“Art isn’t work-it’s a way of life, an attitude. I’m carrying out the dream I began in 1968. I’m living my dream awake. Making my art is my way to participate in the world. It’s always been better to create than destroy. Destroying is very simple. The people who create rather than destroy are really the architects of society.“
About Zagami Fine Art
Zagami Fine Art is an established fine art studio located in Fort Lauderdale, founded by Salvatore Zagami—a respected artist, fine art sculptor, and dedicated teacher. The studio has operated in the same location since 1975, making it one of the longest-standing creative spaces in the region.
This is not a gallery in the traditional sense. Zagami Fine Art functions as an active studio space where works are conceptualized, developed, and built by hand. The studio stands as both a place of personal expression and a public-facing space for discussion, teaching, and artistic experimentation.
Zagami’s approach has always prioritized materials, process, and purpose. This fine art studio reflects that philosophy through its evolving body of work, including sculpture, mixed media, chemical-based painting techniques, photography, and conceptual installations. All of it emerges from a deep commitment to the role of the artist in society and to the value of creative thinking in everyday life.
For over 50 years, the studio has welcomed students, collectors, and fellow creatives to experience the intersection of teaching and making. As a fine art teacher, Zagami has guided thousands of students through hands-on learning within this space, blending education with real-time creative practice.
Today, Zagami Fine Art continues to serve as a working environment where traditional skills meet contemporary ideas. With its 60th year approaching in 2028, the fine art studio stands as a lasting example of what it means to embrace a life in art. It remains an essential space for the Fort Lauderdale art community—a place shaped by discipline, openness, and an ongoing dedication to the act of creating.
Salvatore Zagami – Artist, Educator, and Advocate for Creative Living
Salvatore Zagami, an internationally known artist has resided in his Fort Lauderdale studio, (the oldest studio in the same location) since 1975. Zagami is originally from New York / Italy.
Salvatore Zagami has lived and worked across Florida, New York, Italy, and Venezuela, building an accomplished career as both a fine art teacher and sculptor. His professional journey began with his first solo exhibition in 1973 at the Carone Gallery on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. This was followed by a significant second major exhibition in 1978, where he exhibited alongside renowned artists Matta and Conrad Marca-Relli.
Zagami’s work has been showcased by prominent figures and galleries, including Ivan Karp in New York, the Mack Gillman Gallery in Chicago, and Gallery G in Caracas, Venezuela. Notably, his sculpture at the Outdoor Museum—Andre Perez Mujica—earned him recognition from Venezuelan President Herrera Campins.
Among his most notable accomplishments was a retrospective exhibition at the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art (now the NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale) in 1995, where he exhibited alongside Fernando Botero and Kenny Scharf. This marked a major milestone in his career.
Zagami has also contributed to public art, creating an 18-foot sculpture titled Three Horses above the Cat Walk for the Imperial Point Library in Fort Lauderdale (1988), as part of the city’s Art in Public Places initiative.
His contributions to the arts have been recognized with awards from the South Florida Cultural Consortium and the National Endowment for the Arts, which included a celebratory exhibition at the Norton Gallery of Art in Palm Beach.
Beyond his artistic achievements, Zagami has dedicated much of his life to education and community engagement. Over his career, he has taught more than 5,000 students in the Broward County School system. He has also served as a lecturer, art juror, and mentor within the South Florida community.
For Zagami, art has always been more than a personal pursuit—it has been a mission to inspire creativity and foster positive change. His lifelong goal has been to make a meaningful difference through both his work and his teaching, empowering future generations to create rather than destroy.
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Zagami Fine Art specializes in exclusive fine art collection and investment opportunities across the USA.