2017 Orlando Museum of Art Florida Prize in Contemporary Art

The Orlando Museum of Art presents the fourth exhibition of Orlando Museum of Art Florida Prize in Contemporary Art. This exhibition features 10 of the most progressive and exciting artists working in the State today. Additionally, one of these outstanding artists is selected to receive a significant monetary award.

The award and invitational exhibition recognizes the achievement and potential of these artists and encourages their continued innovation and creation of new work. With this initiative, the Orlando Museum of Art underscores its commitment to support talented emerging and mid-career artists, while celebrating the vibrant cultural life of Florida.

The 2017 artists in the Florida Prize in Contemporary Art are: Domingo Castillo, William Cordova, Coco Fusco, Mark Gerstein, Aramis Gutierrez, Dana Hargrove, Lisa Iglesias, Carl Juste, Ralph Provisero, and Chase Westfall. Each artist featured in this exhibition will be represented by a recent body of work that provides an in-depth view of their practice. The Presenting Sponsor for this exhibition is Sam Flax.

These artists are making a difference and range from emerging to mid-career—some with substantial international recognition. In all cases, they are artists whose achievements are marked by a record of significant exhibitions and awards. Included in this year’s exhibition are painters, sculptors and photographers, along with artists working in multiple disciplines that bring together conceptual art, video, performance and installation.

As a group these artists are responding to many of the difficult issues of the moment. With some artists, these issues are as specific as political violence in Syria or the urgency of an election in Haiti; while other artists engage more universal concerns of social justice, cultural identity and the importance of art in interpreting the challenges of contemporary life. The Florida Prize in Contemporary Art is an opportunity to explore a range of ideas that are relevant today as expressed by these artists in exciting and visually provocative works of art.

EXHIBITION OPENING

The exhibition Opening Preview Party was held on June 2, 2017 from 7-10pm. The ticketed event featured a sampling of the culinary artistry of Orlando’s most sensational restaurants and caterers sponsoring the event, each offering dishes inspired by the 10 Florida Prize artists. Guests also enjoyed beer, wine and specialty cocktails from our beverage sponsors, mingled with the artists, listened to great live music, explored the exhibition and created the best social/cultural mix to be experienced in the State. Ticket revenue from the party attendance supported the Florida Prize exhibition and guests had the opportunity to cast a "People's Choice" vote for their favorite artist. The People's Choice award for $2,500 went to artist Carl Juste.

PRESENTING SPONSOR

Sam Flax is an important part of the Orlando art community and a major resource for artists, architects, collectors, galleries and museums throughout the region. The Florida Prize in Contemporary Art underscores both the Orlando Museum of Art’s, and Sam Flax’s, commitment to the art of our time and to supporting artists and the production of new scholarship about art.

PLATINUM EXHIBITION SPONSOR

FLORIDA PRIZE AWARD SPONSOR

William Cordova was named the 2017 recipient of the Florida Prize in Contemporary Art.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT

Anonymous
H.E. Gross
Rita & Jeffrey Adler Foundation
Rocky Santomassino
Terry & James Mahaffey
Daisy & Jan Staniszkis
Robert B. Feldman, M.D.
Terry Snow