The Florida Prize in Contemporary Art 2021

Posted on by The Wandering Art Historian

My first museum visit after nearly 15 months in lockdown was to see The Florida Prize in Contemporary Art exhibition at the Orlando Museum of Art. I look forward to this exhibition every year as it provides, not only a glimpse into the world of contemporary art, but also a quick survey of the work of Florida artists.

I always try to keep expectations to a minimum so that I can absorb the artwork at face value and allow myself to be surprised by what is on view. Honestly, this year’s outing is my least favorite and I was slightly underwhelmed. There were a number of strong pieces, but there were also entire collections that fell flat for me. Typically, when this happened, I felt that the intent was powerful, but the execution was lacking.

For what it’s worth, my best-in-show award would go to Tra Bouscaren for his installation that fuses themes of mass media, surveillance, commercialism, consumerism, the impact of social media and the idea of “spectacle” for a 21st century artwork that is a harsh critique of the “content creator” lifestyle while also being wildly “Instagrammable.”

Of course, this is simply my personal opinion and I challenge anyone who reads this review to go to the Orlando Museum of Art to experience this exhibition for themselves. After doing so, come to your own conclusions, and if you would like to share your thoughts, please feel free to do so.

For more information on The Florida Prize in Contemporary Art at The Orlando Museum of Art, please visit…

https://omart.org/exhibitions/florida_prize_2021/

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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.