Ed Derkevics is a Tampa Bay-based artist who has been creating socially conscious art using found objects, donated scrap wood, and other discarded materials since moving to the area in 1986. Originally from Islip, Long Island, New York, Ed is the fourth son of Eastern European refugees, a background that profoundly influences his work. His art is focused on drawing attention to societal inequities and uplifting the downtrodden, with a clear goal of making the world a better place.
In addition to his artistic endeavors, Ed spent many years working for the USPS while raising two children and coaching Little League. His love for community building extends beyond the canvas, as he has led open mics and poetry groups for over 20 years in Oldsmar and Safety Harbor. He also formed and leads "Ed’s Shed," a Facebook Live/YouTube variety show in the style of PeeWee’s Playhouse and Laugh-In, which was awarded Best of the Bay and Fringiest of the Tampa Fringe Festival in 2023. An active participant in the Safety Harbor Art and Music Center, Ed manages several events there and frequently attends art shows, openings, museums, and folk art environments. His socially conscious modernistic folk art series, Jonesin' - To Make A Difference, has been featured at St. Petersburg College's campus galleries for the past three years and remains an active exhibition.
Ed’s art serves as a call to action, encouraging viewers to engage with societal issues while celebrating the beauty of transformation through discarded materials.