Sun Bear Gallery and Studio

Sun Bear Gallery and Studio is a beachside art gallery, studio and gift shop in the Laguna Beach area of Panama City Beach. It shows one-of-a-kind wood carvings, artwork and jewelry by Native American and local artists, and it hosts paint parties where visitors can make their own art. Resident artist and operations manager Marie Youngpeter retired from a career in child welfare to follow her dream of having a gallery and studio where up-and-coming artists could show and sell their work.

The gallery is at 19800 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413; call 850-588-6861 or visit sunbeargalleryandstudio.com. Featured painters include Jeb Cariker, known for coastal scenes, and Sally Sutton, who paints in an impressionist style. Other contributing artists include Jaimie Hill (pottery), Netta Puskar (wood burning) and Reagan Hernandez (beach paintings).

Hours are Tuesday through Friday 11am–4pm and Saturday 10am–2pm, with some evenings open for scheduled events. The gallery closes on Thanksgiving and for the entire month of December, so plan around that if you’re visiting over the holidays. Weekly paint parties include instruction and materials and start at around $40 per person (as of September 2026), and private groups of four or more can book their own session. The studio also offers children’s art classes.