Each spring, the Orlando Museum of Art transforms into an arena for the Florida Prize in Contemporary Art, showcasing some of the most vital and innovative artists working in the state today. Over the last few years, since this highly publicized exhibition came to be, it has become one of the most critical exhibitions of the season across the state of Florida, providing recognition and celebration to ten of the most progressive contemporary artists who are challenging the field today.
With Florida Prize 2025 approaching, the ability to revel in yet another season of bold storytelling through varied visuals, contemporary mediums, and interactive gallery experiences awaits. This seasonal exhibition solidifies the range and vibrancy of Florida’s creative community while offering accessibility for collectors, art lovers, and cultural advocates to see what may come next in contemporary art.
A Tradition of Celebrating Florida’s Artists
Since 2014, the Florida Prize in Contemporary Art has become one of the largest showcases of emerging and mid-career talent across the Southeast. This annual invitational exhibition is not only a celebration of contemporary artistic possibility but also a personal, reactionary —even sometimes socio-political—approach from those artists based here in Florida.
“This year’s Florida Prize artists address such pertinent and timely topics as our connections with ancestry, personal and collective memory, and the ties that bind us together. They also explore our fusional relationship with the environment, from urban decay to gentrification, place-making, belonging, and the natural as well as the virtual realm,” said Coralie Claeysen-Gleyzon, The James Cottrell & Joseph Lovett Chief Curator of OMA. “But more than anything, they share the unique voices of ten artists who express poignant and impactful narratives in a plethora of mediums from textile to painting, immersive virtual projections to site-specific installations, ceramics, and drawing.”
Last year’s 2024 Florida Prize exhibition accomplished similar feats across a cohort of artists from around the state with explorations of environment, identity, technology, and metamorphosis.
Previous Years of Florida Prize: A Look Back
Over the past decade, the Florida Prize has included diverse nominees and emerging talent, introducing the public to a wide range of artistic voices and launching the careers of many celebrated artists.
2024 Florida Prize: Yanira Collado was honored for her intricate mixed-media installations that reflect on memory, history, and cultural identity using materials like industrial textiles and soap.
2023 Florida Prize: Akiko Kotani received the award for her large-scale fiber installations that transform everyday materials into immersive environments, exploring themes of femininity and the natural world.
2022 Florida Prize: Jared McGriff was recognized for his expressive paintings that examine themes of identity, community, and psychological space.
2021 Florida Prize: Robert Rivers earned the award for his monumental narrative drawing reflecting on war, trauma, loss, and memory.
2019 Florida Prize: Edison Peñafiel was honored for his multimedia installations exploring labor, displacement, and migration.
2018 Florida Prize: Kenya (Robinson) received the award for her conceptual installations that challenge social norms and investigate race, gender, and privilege.
2017 Florida Prize: william cordova was selected for his mixed-media works that blend cultural memory, personal history, and global politics.
2016 Florida Prize: Noelle Mason was awarded the prize for her works examining themes of surveillance, power, and borders using unconventional materials.
2015 Florida Prize: Farley Aguilar received the prize for his bold, emotionally charged paintings exploring collective psychology and social conflict.
2014 Florida Prize: The inaugural Florida Prize winner was Agustina Woodgate, a Miami-based artist whose work included rug-like wall hangings.
These exhibitions exemplify the Florida Prize as a platform for conversation and exploration. Local artists can gain national recognition through these connections, while visitors are driven to dialogues of discovery and cultural vibrancy.
Florida Prize 2025: What to Expect
This year’s artists in the 2025 Florida Prize lineup provide new perspectives and bold visions within the gallery. Visitors will encounter highly textured works, immersive installations, and powerful portraits. Textiles, concrete, paper, ceramics, soil, paint, print, and interactive digital media will spark conversations on the fresh perspectives provided by these artists.
The juror for the Florida Prize 2025 is Rod Bigelow, the Executive Director of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art since 2013, with over 25 years of experience in arts and cultural management and an MBA from Pacific Lutheran University. During his tenure, the museum has attracted over 14 million visitors. Rod has also held significant roles at the Toledo Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Seattle, and the Tacoma Art Museum.
The Florida Prize involves public programming, special events, and community engagement opportunities that encourage audiences to go deeper with their own dialogue with the artist. This year’s Florida Prize is presented by VyStar Credit Union, with additional support provided by AdventHealth and Oppenheimer Plastic Surgery.
Exhibit runs Summer 2025
Opening Reception Friday, May 30, 6-9 pm
Location: Orlando Museum of Art – 2416 North Mills Avenue, Orlando, FL 32803
Tickets: $50 – Non-Members | $45 – Members
Admission grants priority access to the Florida Prize exhibition, a chance to connect with the artists, and culinary creations from talented chefs inspired by the art.
How to Get Involved
Looking to get involved? Here are a few ways to engage with the Florida Prize in Contemporary Art:
Buy Tickets to the Florida Prize Preview Party: OMA’s Annual Fundraiser is a highly anticipated night where we celebrate opening night with food, drinks, and first access to all the works involved. Attending helps cover exhibition expenses, allowing artists to focus on their creativity and contribute to the art community.
Join OMA: Membership means free access to all exhibitions at OMA (including the Florida Prize).
Volunteer with OMA: Share your passion for art by volunteering for museum programs and events.
Florida Prize’s Impact on the Orlando Art Scene
The Florida Prize is more than an exhibition—it’s a cultural game changer that highlights the abilities of artist contributors who perfected their craft and create masterworks here in Florida. It’s an extension of OMA’s mission to focus on living artists and exhibit works that foster conversation about social issues that inform contemporary art.
This exhibition expands the museum reach, solidifying new and established bonds with collectors and like-minded community creatives in and outside Florida. It helps recognize Florida as a cultural hotbed for art production, solidify Orlando as a destination for the arts, and position the Orlando Museum of Art as a leader for cultural expansion.
Take part in the timely conversation surrounding contemporary art! Join us at the 2025 Florida Prize in Contemporary Art and share your story with others—support the artistic voices shaping our community!
