ocasiocasa
North Fort Myers, Florida
sculpture + illustration by self-taught, folk art creative duo, jeff & dale ocasio
Message
Jeff and Dale Ocasio (a.k.a. ocasiocasa) work collaboratively to create sculpted and illustrative art expressing an imaginative, storybook spirit. Both were raised in Tampa, Florida where they met and began a creative life together. After a move to North Fort Myers in the 90’s, they continued their adventures of art making. Ever since refining their whimsical, self-taught, folk-art style of sculpting with masking tape, they’ve been honored to have their art awarded in juried shows, have exhibited their art locally throughout SW Florida, and have taught classes to help spread the joy of sculpting with such an unusual medium.
Statement
Sculpting with paper masking tape over wire and reclaimed objects is where their artwork begins, aiming to express an imaginative, storybook spirit. Each sculpture is encased with layers of acid‐free glue, color is added with more layers of acrylics, and protected with varnish. A large part of their work is figurative sculpture where a world of made up, quirky, imperfect, characters are introduced to the viewer as soon as eye contact is made. They often hear people exclaim that they’ve never seen anything like their art. Words used to describe it have ranged from “happy” to “charmingly disturbing”.
Past Exhibitions
May 2025 - Members' Spotlight Show - DAAS CO-OP Art Gallery - Ft Myers, FL
May 2024 & 2025 - Group Invitational ‘Inaugural Artists Collective’ - Big Arts on Sanibel Island
August 2022 - Solo Show - Cape Coral Art Center, Cape Coral, FL
March 2021 - Featured 3D Artist - Harbour View Gallery, Cape Coral FL
December 2019 - Water Ways - a tribute to life in the tides - Solo Show - Arts for ACT, Ft Myers
May 2019 - Just Bee...Wonderfully, Weird Wonders - Group Show - Curly Tale Fine Art Gallery, Chicago IL
November 2018 - Make Believe - Group Show - Curly Tale Fine Art Gallery, Chicago IL
April 2018 - Dia de los Muertos: A Celebration of Life - Juried Group Show - Florida Craft Art, St Petersburg FL
January 2018 - "Animal Life: Hatchett, Maldonado, Ocasio and Spry" – Group Show - Lee County Alliance for the Arts
July 2017 - "Fin Folk" - Solo Show - DAAS CO-OP Art Gallery
June 2016 - 30th Annual All Florida Juried Exhibition - Alliance for the Arts (Juror's Choice Award Winner)
February 2016 - "Kings and Queens and Things Unseen" - Solo Show - Arts for ACT
July 2015 - SWFL Lives! 7th Annual Group Show - HOWL Gallery/Tattoo
June 2015 - Art of the Heart Juried Exhibition - Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center
October 2014 - Layers, Fiber, Collage & Assemblage: Juried Exhibit - Alliance for the Arts (Best In Show Winner)
July 2014 - SWFL Lives! 6th Annual Group Show - HOWL Gallery/Tattoo
June 2014 - Untitled: A Group Show - HOWL Gallery/Tattoo
April-May 2014 - Art & Community Exhibit - Southwest Florida Community Foundation
March 2014 - "Burnett, Fithian, and Ocasio" Exhibit - Alliance for the Arts
November 2013 - Dia de los Muertos – Group Show - HOWL Gallery/Tattoo
September 2013 - Exposed: Face & Figure - Invitational Group Show - Alliance for the Arts
June 2013 - 27th Annual All Florida Juried Exhibition - Alliance for the Arts
June 2013 - The Art of Playing - Juried Exhibit - Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center
February 2013 - Art of the Book - Juried Exhibit - Alliance for the Arts (Best in Show Winner)
November 2012 - Dia de los Muertos - GROUP SHOW - HOWL Gallery/Tattoo