Art Palm Beach Show Features Fly-Powered Paintings

Maggots turned houseflies create unique artwork at annual art fair

Jan. 31, 2026 at 5:39pm

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The annual Art Palm Beach show is featuring an unusual art exhibit this year - one that literally draws flies. Artist John Knuth has created a display where maggots are allowed to develop into mature houseflies, which then feed on sugar water infused with acrylic paint and regurgitate the colored liquid onto canvases, creating a hazy, smog-inspired artwork. The exhibit is drawing both fascination and disgust from attendees, but organizers say it's a one-of-a-kind experience not to be missed.

Why it matters

The fly-powered art exhibit at Art Palm Beach is an unconventional and thought-provoking addition to the annual art fair, which typically features more traditional modern and contemporary artworks. It highlights how artists are pushing the boundaries of their craft and using unexpected materials and methods to create unique pieces that challenge viewers' perceptions.

The details

Artist John Knuth, a 48-year-old Los Angeles-based artist, turned to nature to rebuild his life after his house burned down in wildfires last year. He receives maggots by mail order, places them in a specially built enclosure with two facing canvases enclosed in netting, and allows them to develop into mature houseflies. The flies then feed on sugar water infused with acrylic paint, which they regurgitate onto the canvases over a two- to three-month period, creating a hazy, smog-inspired artwork.

  • The Art Palm Beach show runs from January 31 to February 3, 2026.
  • The fly-powered art exhibit will be on display on the final day of the show, Sunday, February 3, 2026.

The players

John Knuth

A 48-year-old Los Angeles-based artist who created the fly-powered art exhibit for the Art Palm Beach show.

Kassandra Voyagis

The director of the Art Palm Beach show, who is promoting the unique fly-powered art exhibit as a must-see attraction for attendees.

Sylvester Stallone

The 79-year-old actor and Palm Beach resident, who is also an accomplished painter and has artwork featured in the Art Palm Beach show.

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What they’re saying

“The fact that he brought the maggots to Palm Beach and they hatched, and they started going into the paint and creating this work, it's something you will never see anywhere else. So, I get it, that it might be a little disgusting for you, but it's something you haven't seen, and the artwork is something quite impressive.”

— Kassandra Voyagis, Art Palm Beach Director

“Before I ever stepped in front of a camera, I was painting. Art has always been my way of pushing through the chaos and putting emotion into something real.”

— Sylvester Stallone

What’s next

The fly-powered art exhibit will be on display on the final day of the Art Palm Beach show, Sunday, February 3, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. One-day tickets to the event cost $40.

The takeaway

The unconventional fly-powered art exhibit at Art Palm Beach showcases how artists are pushing the boundaries of their craft and using unexpected materials and methods to create unique, thought-provoking works that challenge viewers' perceptions. It highlights the enduring appeal of the annual art fair as a platform for showcasing innovative and boundary-pushing contemporary art.