Intricate black-and-white abstract illustration filled with dense, chaotic doodles. The drawing features overlapping patterns, jagged shapes, plant-like forms, eyes, faces, and surreal objects, creating a sense of energy and movement throughout the composition.
Work from the ‘Pile Driver’ show opening at The Bends in St. Petersburg, Florida on Oct. 3, 2025. Credit: Illustration by Joe Frontel

For a few years, the work of Joe Frontel regularly graced the cover of Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. Now the St. Petersburg artist is showing off what he’s been working on in his free time.

His expressive new show, “Pile Drive,” includes screen prints on wood panels, free flowing doodles and graffiti.

“They tend to look like piles and I’m the driver,” Frontel told CL. “But it’s something meditative I’ve done for the last four or five years. It’s more hands-on than my graphic design work as a means to keep up my drawing hand.”

There’s no cover for the “Pile Drive” art show by Joe Frontel happening Friday, Oct. 3 at The Bends in St. Petersburg.

‘Pile Drive’ Art show by Joe Frontel

Time Fri., Oct. 3, 8 p.m. 2025

Location The Bends, 919 First Ave. N, St. Petersburg

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This article appears in Sept. 25 – Oct. 1, 2025.

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief...