Eleven Years of Bold Visions: The Florida Prize in Contemporary Art Ignites Orlando
Last night, May 30th, 2025, the Orlando Museum of Art (OMA) marked the eleventh anniversary of its esteemed Florida Prize in Contemporary Art with an opening preview party, once again underscoring its commitment to the cutting edge of artistic expression within the state. This annual exhibition serves as a vital platform, bringing much-deserved recognition to ten of Florida’s most progressive artists, whose diverse practices span the state from Miami to Tallahassee and beyond.
2025 FLORIDA PRIZE ARTISTS
Nathalie Alfonso @nathalie_alfonso_studio Nathalie Alfonso (b. 1987, Bogota, Colombia) currently lives and works in South Florida.
Eddie Arroyo @developerssurvey
Leo Castañeda @leocastaneda__ In Miami, born Cali, Colombia video game and multimedia artist
Kelly Joy Ladd @artist.kellyjoyladd Florida Prize 2025 – Orlando Museum of Art. I explore the inner-connectedness of all things to understand the universe and our purpose in it.
Amanda Linares @amandallinares Day Before Yesterday is a site-specific installation inspired by the various groups of Indigenous peoples who lived in this region for thousands of years. Primarily utilizing natural materials such as leaves, wood, and clay, the installation incorporates visual references to symbols and patterns traditionally found in the clothing and jewelry of the Seminole tribe — a remaining community of Indigenous tribes in South Florida.
A central component of the work is a circle formed from leaves collected from the trees of the Deering Estate. This symbolic form reflects the cyclical nature of time and life, echoing the lunar-based calendar that guided the lives of Florida’s original inhabitants. The floor work, elevated on a pedestal, serves as a tribute to the Indigenous peoples who traversed and lived on this land. Through careful research, exploration of materiality and design, the work seeks to honor and preserve this rich cultural heritage, using the Seminole tribe as the central reference while inviting reflection on the deep historical and spiritual connections to the land.
Kandy G. Lopez @kandyglopez Multi media Afro Caribbean portrait artist
Jiha Moon @moonjiha Korean American, Artist, FSU professor, Mother of a teenager and two poodles Miso & Pickle
Troy Simmons @troysimmonsstudio
Cornelius Tulloch @corneliustulloch Forever running late, but always delivering on time
Lisu Vega @lisuvega Multidisciplinary and Sustainable Artist
Now in its eleventh year, the Florida Prize, organized by OMA, continues its tradition of surveying the artistic landscape of Florida. Each year, the museum’s curatorial team identifies ten artists who are pushing boundaries and exploring significant ideas in original and visually exciting ways. From this selection, one artist, chosen by an invited juror, receives a $20,000 award, acknowledging their impactful contribution to contemporary art. The participating artists, ranging from emerging to mid-career, often boast impressive records of exhibitions and accolades at both national and international levels.
The 2025 cohort – Nathalie Alfonso, Eddie Arroyo, Leo Castañeda, Kelly Joy Ladd, Amanda Linares, Kandy G. Lopez, Jiha Moon, Troy Simmons, Cornelius Tulloch, and Lisu Vega – exemplifies the breadth and depth of contemporary art in Florida. While their chosen mediums and artistic approaches vary widely, the exhibition reveals compelling common threads. This year, the artists engage with timely topics such as the intricate connections to ancestry, the nuances of personal and collective memory, and the ties that bind us together as a community. Their works also delve into our complex relationship with the environment, exploring themes from urban decay and gentrification to place-making, belonging, and the natural and virtual realms.
A recurring concern within the exhibition is the act of making the unseen visible, whether it be invisible energies, camouflaged identities, marginalized youth, the evidence of labor, erased historical markers, or the hidden layers within the domestic sphere. Ultimately, the Florida Prize highlights the distinctive voices of these ten artists, who present poignant and impactful narratives through a diverse array of mediums, including fiber, painting, paper, drawing, concrete, ceramics, immersive virtual projections, and site-specific installations.
The preview party offered a unique convergence of art and cuisine, with local caterers presenting dishes inspired by each of the featured artists, fostering a dynamic atmosphere for interaction and cultural immersion. Beyond the celebration, the event supports OMA’s ongoing commitment to contemporary art and its educational programs.
Curated by Coralie Claeysen-Gleyzon, The James Cottrell & Joseph Lovett Chief Curator at the Orlando Museum of Art, and juried by Rod Bigelow, Executive Director and Chief Diversity Officer of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the eleventh Florida Prize in Contemporary Art offers a vivid snapshot of the state’s vibrant cultural landscape, showcasing some of the most compelling work being produced in Florida today.
The exhibition officially opened to the public today, Saturday, May 31st, and will remain on view through August 24th at the Orlando Museum of Art. It’s an essential experience for anyone seeking to understand the dynamic pulse of contemporary art in Florida.
Florida Prize in Contemporary Art
Orlando Museum of Art
2416 N Mills Ave
Orlando, FL
(407) 896-4231
[email protected]
SPONSORS
Presenting Sponsor
VyStar Credit Union
Additional support for the 2025 Florida Prize in Contemporary Art provided by:
- Advent Health
- Oppenheimer Plastic Surgery
- Gene and Inge Gross
- Gail Winn, in honor of Mike Winn
- George Poelker & Judy Black
- Lou and Gayley Lauteria
- Dr. George and Leslie Andreae
- MaryBeth & Peter Brown
- Tom and Kathy Cardwell
Participating Caterers
- Arthur’s Catering & Events
- Foodie Catering
- Oley’s Kitchen & Bar-B-Que
- Puff ‘n Stuff Catering
- Levan’s Catering
- Sky Candy
- Little Giant
- The Gnarly Cuban
Entertainment by DJ Smilin Dan
Photography by Spectacle Photo
Lounge by Tim Webber Events
Photobooth provided by SugarPop Productions
Florals by Emerald Gardenia
