This is Not a Gallery
But It’s Attempting to Be That and So Much More
PHOTOS BY JACK PORTUNE | DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NOTTA GALLERY
We see Lakeland on the precipice of becoming more of a cultural hub,” says Andy Webb, the co-owner of Kynd Design Co., standing inside the rapidly evolving space at 125 N. Kentucky Ave., Suite 103. “From the addition of The AGB, current redesign of Munn Park, the Sears Town Art development and the investment in Bonnet Springs Park, Lakeland is quickly becoming very cool. With more galleries, restaurants, and creatives, Lakeland will become an even more attractive destination and that’s where we fit in.”
When he says “we” he’s referring to his wife, Katie—a co-owner of Kynd—as well as Tony Agnello and his fiance, Danielle Klonecki, the four partners who are turning a dream into a concrete reality with Notta Gallery, a one-of-a-kind space where the goal is to elevate local artists and foster a space where people of all ages can create, learn and commune.
Tony is skilled at many things, but sitting still is not one of them.
When he and his business partners came together for a magazine photo shoot he couldn’t resist pulling out his phone, tossing out ideas at a rapid pace. True to form, Tony steered the photo shoot from inside the gallery space straight into the middle of Kentucky Avenue in downtown Lakeland. Why not pretend to be Ringo Starr on Abbey Road 56 years after the iconic photo was shot? If no one else is going to take the leap,
Tony will.
Many Lakelanders know Tony as the owner of Lakeland Air Conditioning, the company famous for its avant-garde advertising, but few know one of his burning passions is much less technical and by the book.
It was during a paddle boarding trip down the Weeki Wachee River last year that something clicked—a fuse long dormant finally reigniting.
He and Danielle both started sketching and painting at a feverish pace, tapping into creative energy that had been buried for years. Tony, a fine arts graduate of Pratt Institute in New York City, had let his artistic side rest for over 20 years. Like many artists, paying bills and raising a family took priority. But the flame had never fully extinguished.
Left to right: Danielle Klonecki, Tony Agnello, Andy Webb and Katie Webb re-enact the Beatles’ famous Abbey Road album cover just outside their new space, Notta Gallery.
At 43, Tony describes himself as “open and fearless” when it comes to bringing chaos into order on a blank canvas. Now, he and his partners are ready to share not only their perspective but a new creative space with the Lakeland community.
In the space previously occupied by June Taylor, Notta Gallery is set to come to life in early September. The gallery’s cheeky name was chosen with intention Notta Gallery will showcase local artists in its 2,000-square-foot space, but it will be more than just a gallery.
The space will feature art classes, workshops, and a robust retail side, offering affordable and unique art pieces. The team envisions a dynamic, ever-evolving space that is welcoming and engaging.
One of the artists who will be featured at Notta is Chris Roll, a renowned local artist who teaches painting, drawing and 2D design at Lakeland High School.
He painted out of ART/ifact Studios for seven years and specializes in figurative oil paintings exploring concepts of nostalgia, interpersonal relationships, solitude and vulnerability.
“Notta Gallery provides a platform for local talent to gain exposure and experience without needing to relocate,” says Roll. “People want to connect with the story behind the art. My work, for example, tells stories of family and experience.”
As Katie puts it, Notta “wants to build something that matters and wants to be part of the community.”
“We’re starting this venture just as the Lakeland Arts Association is opening 35 new artist spaces,” Andy adds. “We’ve been in some great collaborative discussions, and we’re excited to be a part of this cultural shift.”
“We’re going to try to de-program our people from Hobby Lobby,” Agnello says. “You can go there and buy the same thing that a hundred thousand other people bought or you can come here and buy something that no one else has, which [includes] a connection with someone that created it.”
Tony loves figuring out what puzzle pieces it takes to bring something together, and in this case, he’s excited about how each partner brings distinctive skills to the table.
Danielle draws on more than 20 years of business acumen she has gained working as an integral part of a national award-winning automotive group. She said this project is reawakening her creativity in a whole new way, and that sensation is only heightened by the number of artists who cannot wait for Notta to open.
Katie and Andy both grew up in Lakeland, but their creative paths led them to the Savannah College of Art and Design, where they honed their skills in architecture, fine art and textile design. After years away, they returned home in 2020 with a shared dream to blend their talents into a business that would help other businesses shine. That dream became Kynd Design Co., their husband-and-wife venture specializing in interiors and branding with soul. Known for their deep-dive approach, they uncover each client’s story and translate it into thoughtful spaces and visuals that feel as good as they look. In just a few years, they have worked to help transform local storefronts, boutique hotels, and brands into experiences that customers connect with and remember.
“Study for Mourning Light,” produced by Lakeland artist Chris Roll, is an example of the kind of work people can expect to be featured and sold at Notta Gallery.
For Danielle, the most rewarding part of the journey has been the overwhelming support from the local art community.
“You can’t help but feel inspired by the encouragement we’ve received,” she says. “Everyone has been a dream to work with, and that positivity keeps us moving forward.”
The possibilities for Notta Gallery seem endless. The team is already discussing supper clubs, live art events, private rentals, and collaborations with local staples like Art Crawl, Health in Medicine and First Friday events.
The vision for Notta Gallery is just one part of a broader dream to help Lakeland become a destination—and Tony believes that by “taking this swing, perhaps others will follow.” To better understand the vision for Notta someone will have to visit the space, and having a conversation with Tony will bring it all into living color.
Waxing poetically about how he describes Notta, he says the following:
“Notta” is that friend you meet in the middle of a crowded room who somehow makes the whole place feel like yours. She’s dressed in color you can’t quite name, laughing at the edge of the conversation, pulling you toward something you didn’t know you needed to see. She’s part old-soul, part troublemaker, never showing the same face twice—one day she’s a quiet poet in the corner, the next she’s up on the table starting a revolution. She can dress down and sit cross-legged on the floor painting with kids, then slip into a little black dress and host a bourbon tasting without missing a beat. She’s the heartbeat of Lakeland’s creative pulse, a place and a person all at once—where art doesn’t just hang on walls, it spills into your hands, your eyes, your story. Everyone swears they know her, but the truth is, she’s always becoming.
“Stones Beneath the Current” by Tony Agnello, spray paint and oil paint, 60”x48”
Celebrate the Soft Opening of Notta Gallery
Sept. 5, 4 to 10 p.m. and Sept. 6, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
125 N. Kentucky Ave., Suite 103
Prospective Gallery Partners Can Email Portfolios to nottagallery@gmail.com