Where Art Meets Worship: Inside Breakers Art Gallery

The testimony behind a local surf art gallery in Satellite Beach

Walking into Breakers Art Gallery for the first time, I was greeted by beautiful artwork, stunning creations, and the welcoming smile of gallery owner Dawn Peck. Initially, it is the awe-inspiring paintings of beachside sunrises with vibrant colors that may catch your eye. Yet, as I walked through each room and looked more closely, I began to notice the deeper meaning in many of the pieces.

I spotted the shape of a cross in stained-glass pieces, Bible verses written with artists' signatures, and artwork titles referencing Christian hymns, such as the classic, "It Is Well." Breakers Art Gallery showcases more than artwork. For Peck, the gallery is ultimately about glorifying God as the primary Creator who divinely inspires all creativity.

An Artist's Journey to Faith

Dawn is a resident of Satellite Beach and follower of Jesus Christ, but her journey to faith began in an unexpected place. At 25, Dawn was working at the Church of Scientology and searching for truth in all the wrong places. During a hypnotic session, she heard a clear voice repeatedly tell her, "This is not real." She immediately walked out and never returned.

Not long afterward, with her marriage broken and her life in distress, Dawn found herself sleeping on her friend's couch with her 3-year-old daughter. During a conversation with her friend's pastor, Frederickson, he asked her, "Do you know where you go when you die?" Dawn honestly answered, "No."

Frederickson picked up a brown Crayola marker and drew a cross. That simple act opened the door to a conversation about the gospel and the beginning of a completely different life for Dawn: a life of following Jesus Christ.

"In that moment, Jesus saved me. He saves some people by fear and trembling, and some with gentleness. I had to be thrown down," Dawn said.

Growing up, Dawn always had a love and a gift for creating artwork. After finding salvation in Jesus Christ, she began to ask, "How can I glorify God in my art?" With this prayer and the support of her friend Bill Yerkes, her art career began to grow.

In 2019, with only about 12 artists, Dawn opened her first gallery in Satellite Beach. The gallery grew and, despite challenges from COVID, she was able to remain open for business.

Taking advantage of an expansion opportunity, Dawn moved the gallery to Cocoa Beach for two years. This seemed like a wonderful step for the business, but it came at a cost. "The business became too big. I rarely found myself waking up and talking to God as I once did," Dawn explained. "It was time to downsize."

A potential location opened up back in Satellite Beach, and Dawn knew this was an answered prayer. The gallery moved in January 2026, and Breakers has been in Satellite Beach ever since.

The Ministry of the Gallery

Among the gifted artists who have found a home at Breakers Art Gallery is Sissi McLaughlin. A Marine veteran who previously worked in law enforcement, Sissi has experienced how artwork can be an important avenue for healing from past trauma and connecting with God. A primary way she shares this truth is by beginning her weekend mornings at Pineda Beach, painting the sunrise.

"At sunrise, people walking on the beach will see me painting, and they may stop by out of curiosity," Sissi said. "This is a great opportunity to share the beauty of God's Creation and talk about Jesus with people in an environment outside of a church building."

Soon after Sissi became an artist at the gallery, Dawn realized they shared a faith in Jesus when she noticed a Bible verse written on Sissi's artwork. It was Romans 15:13:

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit..."

Art may have brought their friendship together, but it was faith that truly unified them as sisters in Christ.

A Greater Purpose

The community surrounding Breakers Art Gallery has also created opportunities to minister to customers in meaningful ways. Dawn reflected on one encounter with a longtime customer suffering from cancer. "One day, she came to the gallery, and she looked very sick," Dawn said. "Out of a desperate concern for her, the Holy Spirit put me down on my knees. I grabbed her by the hands. After asking if she knew what would happen after death, she didn't know. I told her the gospel, told her about Jesus Christ, and she was saved right then."

Dawn explained, with tears in her eyes, that her friend died the next day.

"The creation of Breakers Art Gallery could've solely been for that exact moment, to share the gospel. It is all worth it. This is my ministry. Jesus, be glorified," she said.

On the Horizon

With a variety of her artwork currently showcased throughout the gallery, Dawn still finds time to create new paintings as God inspires her. For more than a year, she has been working on her next piece, which will reflect her personal testimony. It features mountains, valleys, storms and rocks across a landscape intended to reflect a walk with Jesus, combining high and low points with a sense of beauty, reverence and joy.

Dawn sees the purpose of Breakers Art Gallery as helping people recognize the artist God has already created within them. "God inspires all art. Every day He paints a new sky… what better way to reflect this glory than in front of our easels?" Dawn said.

Her Facebook group, Thriving Artists in Christ, encourages a creative community united in Jesus. Breakers also routinely offers classes, pop-up events, and fall festivals. On their website, interested artists can find more information and an application to become a member of the gallery.

A Look Back

Finishing my interview with Dawn at Breakers Art Gallery, I approached the exit and viewed the artwork on the walls one final time. I was amazed at the difference in my perspective from when I entered. I saw God's glory in the artwork much more than I initially did. It seemed like each piece I saw again, there He was! How did I miss seeing Him during my first look of the same paintings?

The truth was, on my first pass, I wasn't looking for God. My focus was scattered, jumping from one piece to another without taking intentional time to look deeper.

And how I am so guilty of that as I live out this life. I jump from one responsibility to the next, failing to take the time to see God working in my relationships and beautiful Creation around me.

There is one thing that I believe all creatives would agree on, and it is the simple truth that art takes time. The fullness of a masterpiece cannot be completed in one day, and the same truth applies to a relationship with Jesus.

If you are anything like me, I encourage you to be intentional and appreciate the beautiful Creator that God is. His desire is to reveal Himself and to glorify the name of Jesus Christ. As you slow down and shift your perspective, you may notice crosses hanging on rearview mirrors of cars, the name of Jesus written in the sand on your beach walk, or a Bible verse painted in the window of your favorite coffee shop. You may see Jesus at times you missed before.

To put it simply, Jesus is always present, especially if you slowly, intentionally, look for Him. It may just require a little change of perspective.

At a Glance

— Isabel Gray is a Jesus-loving coastal cowgirl from the heart of Kentucky who finds joy in loving God's people, experiencing His Creation, and writing stories that need to be told.