Monarch Fine Art's Grand Opening During Fantasy Fest 2025
If you weren't at Monarch Fine Art during Fantasy Fest weekend, we need to talk about what you missed.
October 24th and 25th. Two nights. Two visionary artists. Hundreds of guests. And the kind of energy you can't manufacture.
This was our Grand Opening. And it was everything we hoped for and so much more.
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The Artists
Scotty Ziegler and Michael Ornstein brought it. Not just their art, but their presence, their stories, their passion. Watching collectors connect with them in person, asking questions about technique and inspiration, hearing the stories behind the work: that's what a gallery opening should feel like.
Scotty's "Tastefully Edgy" pieces commanded attention before guests even walked through the door.
Seductive. Bold. Perfectly Fantasy Fest. His wife Angie told him to paint women, and he's been doing it his way ever since: blending metalsmithing, jewelry making, and fine art into work that's unapologetically vibrant and impossible to ignore.
Michael's paintings stopped people mid-conversation.
His use of raw pigments, oil crayons, and mixed media creates surfaces that shift with the light, revealing new details every time you look. The emotional depth in his work sparked conversations that lasted well past closing time.
The Team
None of this happens without our incredible team. From setup to breakdown and every champagne pour in between, they made Monarch Fine Art feel exactly like we wanted it to feel: welcoming, sophisticated, and alive with energy.
They answered questions. They told stories. They helped first-time buyers feel confident and seasoned collectors feel at home. They kept the vibe right even when Duval Street was at peak Fantasy Fest chaos outside our doors.
This team is the reason Monarch works. Plain and simple.
The Guests
Key West locals. Collectors from Miami and Palm Beach. First-time visitors who wandered in curious and left with art under their arms. Return guests who came back for a second look on night two.
The energy in the room was electric! Conversations flowed. Connections happened. People lingered. They didn't want to leave, and honestly, neither did we.
The Vibe
Fantasy Fest is wild. Body paint, costumes, parades, Duval Street at its most chaotic and colorful. We leaned into that energy while offering something different: a space to breathe, to think, to actually experience art.
Cold champagne. Warm conversation. Bold contemporary work on the walls. Air conditioning that hit just right after the heat of Duval.
It was the calm in the chaos. The more elevated counterpoint to the madness outside. And people loved it!
The Takeaway
We set out to make a statement with this Grand Opening. To show Key West what a contemporary gallery could be. To introduce Scotty Ziegler and Michael Ornstein to collectors who would appreciate their work. To prove that bold taste and refined eye could thrive right here on Duval Street.
Mission: Accomplished.
But, guess what? It was just the beginning.
What's Next
We're already planning for Fantasy Fest 2026. Bigger. Bolder. More surprises. The kind of event you'll want to mark your calendar for right now. That's, October 16 - 25, 2026, just in case you were wondering.
If you were there this year, thank you. You made it unforgettable.
If you missed it? We're sorry. Truly. But we're also giving you plenty of notice for next year.
Fantasy Fest 2026. Monarch Fine Art. Be there. Sign up for our email list so you don't miss the invite!
In the meantime, the gallery is open daily. The work from our Grand Opening is still on the walls. Scotty and Michael's pieces are available. Come see what everyone's been talking about! Can't make it into the gallery? Check out the available pieces online then schedule a virtual appointment to experience it in a way just short of being here.
Because if there's one thing we learned Grand Opening weekend, it's this: Monarch Fine Art is exactly where it's supposed to be.
Monarch Fine Art
910 Duval Street
Key West, Florida 33040
Open Daily
Sun: 12pm-10pm | Mon–Thu: 10am–10pm | Fri–Sat: 10am–11pm
