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Testa-Secca graduated from UT in 1950 with a degree in business administration, and went on to earn a Master of Fine Arts at the University of Georgia and further his studies at the University of Iowa. He rejoined the University community as a young professor in 1960, teaching drawing and painting.

Testa-Secca’s works have come to decorate public buildings and private homes all over Tampa Bay, from Malio’s Restaurant and the J.F. Germany Library, to the stately homes of Bayshore Boulevard and Culbreath Isles, and even buildings on the University of South Florida campus.

Testa-Secca was an influential leader in the Tampa Bay art community at the time when contemporary art was just starting to become of interest to the Bay area. Seeing this rising attention to contemporary artists works in Tampa, Testa-Secca worked with UT’s administration to be on the forefront of these changes.

As a co-founder of the Scarfone/Hartley Gallery, the first fully dedicated contemporary art space in Tampa, Testa-Secca increased Tampa’s access to now world-renowned contemporary artists through exhibitions by William Pachner, William Walmsley and Pedro Perez among others.

“Forty years since Joe created the Department of Art here at UT, we have an incredible opportunity to honor his work as an artist and celebrate his part in the development of the art community of Tampa Bay,” said Jocelyn Boigenzahn, director of the Scarfone/Hartley Gallery. “Through his art and teaching, Testa-Secca inspired and fostered hundreds of UT student artists and connected numerous Tampa residents to support the arts both as patrons of his work and witnesses of his work all over town, and for that, we are truly thankful.”

The gallery plans to produce a full-color monographic catalogue of Testa-Secca’s work from over 40 years, including the pieces featured in the exhibition. In addition, Testa-Secca has created a special print for the exhibition. Copies of the catalogue and print will be available for purchase at the gallery and online. All proceeds will support future exhibitions and educational programs, such as artist talks and Camp SpARTan.

This exhibition is made possible thanks to a group of supporters know as Friends of Joe, the Friends of the Gallery and The University of Tampa.

The gallery is located on campus in the R.K. Bailey Art Studios at 310 N. Boulevard. Gallery hours are 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Tuesday–Friday, and 1–4 p.m. Saturday. There is no charge for admission.

For more information, contact Jocelyn Boigenzahn, gallery director, at jboigenzahn@ut.edu or (813) 253-6217.