The Florida Prize in Contemporary Art

Posted on by The Wandering Art Historian

I recently visited the Orlando Museum of Art to view the Florida Prize in Contemporary Art exhibition.  It is so important to celebrate and discuss the work of artists living and creating in today’s world.  The pieces these artists create are visual representations of the times and events we are currently living and sometimes those artworks speak louder than any op-ed piece, letter to the editor or 24-hour news cycle talking head.

This year’s selection of talent was phenomenal.  While not every piece was successful in exemplifying the artists’ written statement/intent, each piece was crafted with passion and that definitely came through to the viewer.  My only other frustration with this show is that the majority of artists included in this exhibition were from Miami.  Miami’s art scene has been exploding over the past few years, so it makes sense that a ton of profound work would come from that area.  However, the competition is called the Florida Prize, thus the show should better reflect Florida’s rich diversity and exhibit more work from artists throughout the entire state.

For more information on the Orlando Museum of Art, please visit…

https://omart.org/

 

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I am writer and artist with a degree in art history who loves to talk to people about art. I have spent the last seven years building up The Wandering Art Historian “brand” as a way to connect with people who want to learn more about art. I give lectures and presentations and teach classes and host book club discussions with a creative or artistic connection. I also write about local artists, events, museums, and exhibitions to promote the arts in Central Florida. In 2021, I had a creative crisis. I struggled with authenticity in the art making process. I decided to make myself vulnerable and find out what a real, genuine Adrienne H. Lee artwork would look like. The process was challenging and emotional and revelatory. I learned that if necessity is the mother of invention, then authenticity is the mother of reinvention. I reinvented myself and learned an entirely new medium. The resulting artwork surprised me, and it will surprise you, too. Some people wish for a fairytale ending. For me, the fairy tale is only the beginning.