IN THE SPOTLIGHT
‘Panoramic Light — The Art of Hansen Mulford’
WHAT: Hansen Mulford has been a fixture on the Central Florida art scene for decades, most notably serving as curator of Orlando Museum of Art. He retired in March 2023 after 42 years of service there, and now his art gets a turn in the spotlight. This exhibition features Mulford’s studio work and offers a rare look into his personal artistic vision. Known for his contemplative compositions and evocative use of space and light, Mulford creates paintings that invite viewers into quiet moments of reflection, often drawing from themes of nature, memory and mood.
WHEN: Oct. 16-Dec. 11
WHERE: Crealdé School of Art, 600 St. Andrews Blvd. in Winter Park
INFO: crealde.org
YOUR SEASON PLANNER
Schedules are subject to change, so always double-check before heading to an event.
ART FOR ALL SPACES
Art For All Spaces is an independent Central Florida arts organization that produces exhibitions to connect artists with the community through education, collaboration and creative engagement. The organization partners with various museums, galleries and institutions for its shows. More information: artforallspaces.com
ELEGY FOR THE UNSEEN — THE ART OF EXTINCT SPECIES: Through Nov. 15, at Fusion: A Steam Gallery in the Orlando Science Center, 777 E. Princeton St. in Orlando. This exhibition by contemporary artists and student creators explores the memory, mystery and scientific significance of species that have vanished from our world.
HIDDEN FLORIDA: Sept. 17-Oct. 11, at CityArts, 39 S. Magnolia Ave. in Orlando. This group show by contemporary artists highlights remarkable places, forgotten history, hidden natural landscapes, unique architecture, overlooked businesses and cultural treasures of the Sunshine State.
Art by Samantha Levine is part of the Art for All Spaces exhibition “Hidden Florida.” (Courtesy Brad Biggs)
CASSELBERRY ARTS CENTER
The gallery is at 137 Quail Pond Circle in Casselberry and open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. More information: casselberry.org/917/Casselberry-Arts-Center
EXPERIENCE CONTEMPORARY — A WRENCH IN THE GEARS: Through Nov. 13. Justin Luper curates this five-person exhibition in which artists Justin Quaid Grubb, Cynthia Mason, Noelle Mason, Hilary White and Matthew Wicks use sculpture, painting, photography, ceramics and textiles to expose the instability hidden within our use of technology, photography, communication and more.
UNCERTAIN PARTIES: Dec. 11, 2026-March 26, 2027. Through contemporary painting, Lindsay Deifik and Emmy Thelander explore the intersection of logic, memory and the human experience in an exhibit that examines the complex relationship between rational systems and emotional experiences. The artists will give a talk on Feb. 12.
Special event
CONEXIÓN: Sept. 12, 2026-Jan. 29, 2027. Group show by artists of Latin American descent with the idea of uniting people. The exhibit, which opens with the city’s Latin Jazz and Art Festival at Lake Concord Park, takes place at City Hall, 95 Triplet Lake Drive in Casselberry.
“Tough Pills,” by Lindsay Deifik, will be on view in the “Uncertain Parties” exhibition at the Casselberry Arts Center. (Courtesy Casselberry Arts Center)
CREALDÉ SCHOOL OF ART
The school and galleries are at 600 St. Andrews Blvd. in Winter Park, with some exhibits on view at Crealdé’s Hannibal Square Heritage Center, 642 W. New England Ave. in Winter Park, and at Winter Garden City Hall, 300 W. Plant St. Main campus hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday and Saturday. More information: 407-671-1886 or crealde.org. Heritage Center hours are noon-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. More information: 407-539-2680 or hannibalsquareheritagecenter.org
Exhibits
BENEATH A CLEAR BLUE SKY — PHOTOGRAPHS OF SEPT. 11: Through Sept. 26, in the Alice and William Jenkins Gallery. Curated by Kyle Eagle, this is a 25th-anniversary memorial exhibition of the terrorist attacks that shocked the nation, featuring photographs taken by artist David Forrest in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001.
SACRED VESSELS — HEALING AND MEMORY IN THE BLACK DIASPORA: Sept. 5-Dec. 13, at the Hannibal Square Heritage Center. Orlando-based multidisciplinary artist Tasanee Durrett presents this exhibition of mixed-media works that investigate how environmental knowledge intertwines with mental wellness and cultural identity, focusing on the neck and head as sacred vessels of memory.
EMERGE — NEW WORKS BY 3D & PHOTOGRAPHY FELLOWSHIP AND STUDIO ARTISTS: Oct. 2-Dec. 13, in the Showalter Hughes Community Gallery. This biennial exhibition showcases new work by artists in Crealdé’s Fellowship and Studio Artist Programs—residency-style opportunities that provide teaching experience, mentorship, and studio access. Participants are selected through a competitive process and work in a variety of media, including painting, drawing, ceramics, sculpture and photography.
PANORAMIC LIGHT — THE ART OF HANSEN MULFORD: Oct. 16-Dec. 11, in the Alice and William Jenkins Gallery. Known for his contemplative compositions and evocative use of space and light, Hansen Mulford creates paintings that invite viewers into quiet moments of reflection, often drawing from themes of nature, memory and mood.
THE SHAPE OF HER STORY: Jan. 8-April 16, 2027, in the Showalter Hughes Community Gallery. Presented in celebration of International Women’s Month, “The Shape of Her Story” features the work of the Women Artists Group, a collective of accomplished Central Florida artists founded in 2015 to foster artistic growth, collaboration and creative exchange.
ORACLE AND BONE: Jan. 22-April 16, 2027, in the Alice and William Jenkins Gallery. Prints from street artist Swoon’s recently released divination deck, drawing upon archetypes, symbols and characters from the richly imagined fairytale world she has spent years building. Rooted in storytelling and transformation, these works blend myth, memory and personal narrative while reflecting the artist’s longstanding engagement with social and environmental issues.
THE SPIRIT OF SANKOFA — MEMORY AND RESILIENCE IN BLACK HISTORY: Feb. 5-May 9, 2027, at the Hannibal Square Heritage Center. An exploration of the power of historical memory, cultural heritage and community resilience through contemporary visual art, this exhibit is inspired by the West African concept of “sankofa,” meaning “to go back and retrieve.”
THE LAKE PROJECT: Ongoing at Winter Garden City Hall. Documentary photography and plein air paintings trace the cultural and environmental transformation of Lake Apopka.
THE HERITAGE COLLECTION — PHOTOGRAPHS AND ORAL HISTORIES OF WEST WINTER PARK: Ongoing at the Hannibal Square Heritage Center. Archival photographs and oral histories document daily life and community milestones in Winter Park’s historic Black neighborhood.
Event
NIGHT OF FIRE: Feb. 7, 2027. The popular experience returns with art, music, and high-heat demonstrations showcasing the creative spirit of Crealdé.
“The Unfolding,” an acrylic work by Lillian Verkins, will be part of “The Shape of Her Story,” a Crealdé School of Art exhibit celebrating International Women’s History Month. (Courtesy Crealdé)
DOWNTOWN ARTS DISTRICT
Orlando’s Downtown Arts District has galleries at CityArts, 39 S. Magnolia Ave. More information:
downtownartsdistrict.com
Exhibit
GUATEMALA, MY PLACE OF TREES: Sept. 17-Oct. 11. Through fluorescently powerful color and dense layers of overgrown plants, artist Ambar Santiago confronts the complicated experience of growing up in the United States while feeling separated from her Central American and Caribbean heritage.
Events
THIRD THURSDAYS: Extended hours, art openings, food, drink and entertainment on the Third
Thursday of each month.
Artist Ambar Santiago is featured in her exhibit “Guatemala, My Place of Trees” at the Downtown Arts District’s CityArts galleries. (Courtesy Ambar Santiago)
FAITH ARTS VILLAGE
Located in a renovated motel at 221 E. Colonial Drive in Orlando, the Faith Arts Village Orlando rents space to more than 30 full-time studio artists who open their doors to the public from 5-9 p.m. the first Friday and Saturday of every month. More information: 407-222-1231 or faithartsvillage.com
FAVO STUDIO OPEN HOUSES: Sept. 4-5, Oct. 2-3, Nov. 6-7, Dec. 4-5
FIRE SONG STUDIO
Ann Robinson’s studio is at 811 Eyrie Drive in Oviedo. More information: 407-365-2529
OPEN HOUSE & CHRISTMAS SHOW: Dec. 5-6. More than 40 years of professional pottery creation. See enameled silver and silver clay designs, handcrafted snowflake ornaments, silver and glass-bead jewelry.
GALLERY ON FIRST
The gallery is at 211 E. First St. in Sanford and has an open studio night with its working artists from 6-9 p.m. the third Saturday of each month. More information: 407-323-2774 or galleryonfirstsanford.com
DIVERGENCE: Sept. 19. Art by Solrun Bjork and Parrish Monk.
BIRTHDAY SPOOKTACULAR: Oct. 17. Art by Jennifer Payne and Kimberly Turner.
EXPRESSIONS OF GRATITUDE: Nov. 23. Art by Don Moon and Nicole Wittstock.
PAST AND PRESENT: Jan. 16, 2027. Art by Debe and Kevin Abbott.
LOCAL ARTISTIC YOKELS: Feb. 20, 2027. Art by Andrew McMillen and Robert Moore.
EXPLORATIONS IN WATERCOLOR: March 20, 2027. Art by Stewart Jones and Cindy Sturla.
SPRING SHOW: April 17, 2027. Multiple artists exhibit.
LOVE SHOW: May 15, 2027. Art by Kim Brown and April Hawkins.
SUMMER JOY: June 19, 2027. Art by Marcia Selleri and Tinna Patriksdóttir Winkler.
LAKE MARY-HEATHROW FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS
The annual event takes place at Colonial Towne Park on the H.E. Thomas Jr. Parkway, County Road 46A, in Lake Mary. More information: lakemaryheathrowarts.com
FESTIVAL: March 6-7, 2027. The 40th annual event.
LEESBURG CENTER FOR THE ARTS
The center is at 429 W. Magnolia St. in Leesburg. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, noon-4 p.m. Saturdays. More information: leesburgarts.com
Exhibits
CLAIRE MOLINA — ORIGINS: Sept. 11-Oct. 23. Art created with ancient material processes such as hand-ground pigments, iron-oxide ceramic glazes and earth pigment relief printing ink. The exhibit explores the themes of natural processes, human behavior and cosmic patterns. An artist talk will be at 1 p.m. Sept. 12.
RAY OLIVERO — SPACE, COLOR & SHAPE: Oct. 30-Dec. 19.
MARTIN CUSHMAN — FLORIDA FAINENCE POTTERY: Jan. 8-March 6, 2027.
Events
LEESBURG ARTS & MUSIC FESTIVAL: March 13-14, 2027, on Main Street in downtown Leesburg.
LONGWOOD ARTS AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL
The festival takes place in the city’s historic district, centered at 200 W. Warren Ave. in Longwood. More information: LongwoodFestival.com
FESTIVAL: Nov. 21-22. The 50th event finds more than 200 artists and craftspeople displaying their creations.
MAITLAND ART CENTER
Part of the Art & History Museums of Maitland, the center is at 231 W. Packwood Ave. in Maitland. Hours are 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. The center also offers classes for a fee. More information: 407-539-2181 or artandhistory.org
Exhibits
US: Through Sept. 27. The exhibition brings together works by six Bok Fellows from the 1930s and ’40s, presented in dialogue with works by nine contemporary resident artists, the intellectual and artistic heirs of art center founder Andre Smith’s Bok Fellows program.
VILOMAH — AGAINST THE NATURAL ORDER: Oct. 17, 2026-Jan. 3, 2027. Soude Dadras investigates the traumatic sociocultural experiences she encountered first-hand in Iran, as well as the processes and rituals of healing which enabled her to turn her pain into positivity. This installation of traditional handwork, found objects, video, abandoned textiles and discarded data will seek to centralize disparate voices.
BETWEEN STARSHINE AND CLAY — CERAMICS ACROSS DIASPORA, LAND AND LINEAGE: Opens Jan. 22, 2027. Art by Osa Atoe and Kaabo Clay Collective. The exhibit explores the enduring legacy of African and African American ceramics through contemporary studio practice and is rooted in themes of diaspora, memory, land, and shared cultural tradition.
Events
LITTLE CREATIVES & ME: The third Wednesday of each month. Songs, stories, art and a snack for children. Free, but registration is required.
STORIES IN STONE — WALKING TOUR OF THE MAITLAND ART CENTER: First Saturday and fourth Thursday of each month, except July and August. A tour of the gardens, with the Mayan Revival carvings and murals.
RICARDO RAMIREZ BUXEDA/ORLANDO SENTINEL
Tour the Maitland Art Center and get an inside look at its distinctive architecture. (Orlando Sentinel file)
FIRST SATURDAYS OPEN STUDIOS: First Saturday of each month. See what artists are working on.
LAST WEDNESDAY — AFTER HOURS AT THE A&H: Last Wednesday of each month. Free entry 5:30-8 p.m., cash bar available, with gallery tours and talks.
THE ART OF THE PORTRAIT FROM LIFE: Sept. 12. Three-hour workshop on capturing likeness, beauty and raw emotion with charcoal.
FAMILY DAYS: Oct. 3, 2026; Feb. 6, 2027; April 17, 2027. Free admission, including a children’s art activity, scavenger hunts, face painting and more.
FALL OPEN HOUSE: Nov. 13. Free evening with art and live music.
McRAE ART STUDIOS
The studios, at 1000 Arlington St. in Orlando, provide workspace for more than 20 artists. More information: mcraeartstudios.com
HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE & 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: Dec. 12. Browse paintings, photographs, mixed media, sculpture and ceramics. Refreshments are available for purchase.
MENNELLO MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART
The city-owned museum is at 900 E. Princeton St. in Orlando. Hours are 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and noon-4:30 p.m. Sunday. More information: 407-246-4278 or mennellomuseum.org
New exhibit
ISAMU NOGUCHI — METAL THE MIRROR: Through Feb. 27, 2027. On loan from the Art Bridges Foundation, this traveling exhibition showcases nine of Isamu Noguchi’s galvanized steel sculptures from 1982-1983.
Ongoing exhibits
ALICE AYCOCK — WALTZING MATILDA AND TWIN VORTEXES: Two large-scale works installed in the Marilyn L. Mennello Sculpture Garden.
LUCA MOLNAR — WORKER BEES: The large mural highlights Florida’s role as the United States’ “winter garden,” emphasizing the importance of citrus, sugarcane, tomatoes and other produce in Florida’s economy and culture.
Events
MUSIC AND STORY TIME WITH MARK DeMAIO: Ongoing, Sept. 16, Oct. 21, Nov. 11 and Dec. 16, 2026; Jan. 20 and Feb. 17, 2027. Themed events for young children.
FREE FAMILY FUNDAY: Ongoing, Sept. 13, Oct. 11, Nov. 8 and Dec. 13, 2026; Jan. 10 and Feb. 14, 2027. Free admission and all-ages activities.
THE CURATORIAL LENS — CONVERSATIONS IN THE GALLERY: Sept. 18 discussion with museum director Shannon Fitzgerald; Nov. 13 discussion with associate curator Abigail Baeza; Jan. 22, 2027, discussion with Theo Lotz, executive director of Flying Horse Editions at UCF.
IKEBANA FLOWER ARRANGEMENT WORKSHOP: Oct. 10. Free.
HIBIKI-KIZUNA-YASURAGI (RESONATING-CONNECTING-INNER PEACE): Feb. 20, 2027. Free yoga and meditation workshop.
The Mennello Museum of American Art presents “Metal the Mirror,” a sculptural exhibition by Isamu Noguchi. Among the works on view: “Cloud Mountain.” (Courtesy Mennello Museum)
MORSE MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART
The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art is at 445 N. Park Ave. in Winter Park. Hours are 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 1 p.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday. The galleries are open until 8 p.m. on Fridays from November to April. More information: 407-645-5311 or morsemuseum.org
New exhibits
REVOLT IN THE PARLOR — ESCAPING VICTORIAN TASTE: Opens Oct. 13. This exhibit traces the evolving currents of American art and design from 1890 to 1959.
PARTY IN THE GARDEN: Opens March 2, 2027. In its look at social tea parties, this vignette exhibition will be the museum’s first to focus on the remarkable artistry, technical mastery and cultural importance of clothing from the 1920s as women’s fashions changed dramatically. It also commemorates, a century later, a uniquely Winter Park event—a garden-party tea next to Lake Osceola.
Ongoing exhibits
HANDPICKED: JEWELRY FROM THE MORSE COLLECTION: Highlights of personal artistic heirlooms of the Morse, Genius and McKean families.
BREAKING TRADITION — DISTINGUISHING AMERICAN STAINED GLASS: How artists, including Louis Comfort Tiffany and John La Farge, broke from convention to redefine a centuries-old medium.
TIFFANY ART GLASS: This installation brings together examples of the artist’s mastery of textured effects, from smoothly cut Agate glass to pitted and organic Lava glass.
BEYOND GLASS — THE PAINTINGS OF LOUIS COMFORT TIFFANY: A showcase of Tiffany’s paintings and a continuous exploration of color and light in the medium.
SALON-STYLE PAINTINGS: This exhibition takes the form of a “salon,” known for floor-to-ceiling hangings, and features paintings from the Morse collection.
TIFFANY CHAPEL: The celebrated chapel interior that Louis Comfort Tiffany created for exhibition at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago opened as an exhibition at the Morse in April 1999, becoming available to the public for the first time in more than 100 years.
ARTS AND LETTERS: An exploration of the art of letter writing in the 19th and 20th centuries.
VIGNETTE — FAIR VIEWS: This vignette takes the form of a turn-of-the-century world’s fair display, including glass, art pottery and furniture, as well as World’s Fair ephemera from the Morse’s collection.
FASCINATING CLUTTER — AMERICAN TASTE DURING THE REIGN OF VICTORIA: This exhibition explores the aesthetics of the 19th century.
AMERICAN ARTS AND CRAFTS: Selections from the Morse collection that illustrate the concept of the unified interior through the Arts and Crafts movement.
LAMPS AND LIGHTING — TIFFANY AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES: Innovative designs.
LOUIS COMFORT TIFFANY’S LAURELTON HALL: The restored Daffodil Terrace from the glass artist’s home and about 200 objects related to the estate.
LOUIS COMFORT TIFFANY’S LIFE AND ART: A comprehensive look at the great artist.
TIFFANY’S FIREPLACE HOOD: A Tiffany design from circa 1885.
RARE AND REMARKABLE — ART POTTERY OF LOUIS COMFORT TIFFANY: Showing there was more to the artist than glass.
SECRETS OF TIFFANY GLASSMAKING: Through photographs, models, tools and art objects, this teaching exhibit shows the range of Louis Comfort Tiffany’s glass production.
Emmanuel Jules Joseph Comier’s “Beauty of Paris,” a 1925 work in bronze, ivory and onyx, is part of the Morse Museum of American Art’s “Revolt in the Parlor” exhibition. (Courtesy Morse Museum)
Events
THANKSGIVING WEEKEND CELEBRATION: Nov. 27-29. Free admission, with live music Friday night.
HOLIDAY FRIDAY NIGHTS: Nov. 27, Dec. 4, 11 and 18. Free admission and live music from 5-8 p.m.
CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK: Dec. 3 at Central Park in downtown Winter Park. The 48th annual exhibition of Tiffany windows and a free outdoor holiday concert by the Bach Festival Society Choir and Brass Ensemble.
CHRISTMAS EVE CELEBRATION: Dec. 24. Free admission and music.
WINTER PARK ARTS WEEKEND CELEBRATION: Feb. 5-7. Free admission, with live music on Sunday.
SPRING FRIDAY NIGHTS: March 5, 12, 19 and 26; April 2, 9, 26, 23 and 30. Free admission and live music from 5-8 p.m.
WINTER PARK SIDEWALK ART FESTIVAL OPEN HOUSE: March 19-21. Free admission, with
live music Friday night.
EASTER WEEKEND CELEBRATION: March 26-28. Free admission, with live music Friday night.
MOUNT DORA CENTER FOR THE ARTS
The Mount Dora Center for the Arts has two venues. Its Uptown Gallery is at 847 E. 5th Ave. and open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays. The Downtown Gallery is at 138 E. Fifth Ave. and is open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. More information: 352-385-7004 or mountdoraart.com
Exhibits
MOUNT DORA ART LEAGUE: Ongoing, at the Downtown Gallery.
PRESSING MATTERS: Through Oct. 9, at the Uptown Gallery. A collaborative exhibition by Central Florida printmakers.
Events
ART IN THE ALLEY: Second Friday of each month in the alley on Royellou Lane between 3rd and 5th
avenues, from 6-8:30 p.m. Showcase for emerging artists.
VIVA LA FRIDA FESTIVAL: Sept. 26. Food, music and art inspired by Latin American culture.
PLEIN-AIR PAINT OUT EVENT: Oct. 7-Nov. 15. Plein-air artists will paint Mount Dora during this annual event.
52ND MOUNT DORA ARTS FESTIVAL: Feb. 6-7, 2027. Artists take to the streets of Mount Dora.
ORANGE COUNTY MULTICULTURAL CENTER
The venue, which has an art gallery, is at 7149 W. Colonial Drive in Orlando. Hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays. More information: orangecountyfl.net/ArtsCulture.aspx
REMEDY: Through Sept. 16. This solo exhibit by multimedia artist “Straight to Voicemail,” aka Bray Muhammad, features emotion, surrealism, and unapologetic Black expression. Living with a rare physical disability, Muhammad has long used art as both therapy and truth-telling and invites viewers to step into her REM cycle, where the surreal meets the real and art becomes medicine.
ORLANDO MUSEUM OF ART
The museum is at 2416 N. Mills Ave. in Orlando. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, noon-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. More information: 407-896-4231 or omart.org
Exhibits
REPRESENT — CONTEMPORARY FIGURATION AND PORTRAITURE: Through March 7, 2027. A selection of the diverse portraits in the Orlando Museum of Art collection, featuring the recent acquisition of a Kandy G Lopez textile, “Hispaniola II — Mia” and the gift of David LaChapelle’s photograph: The Annunciation.”
USA 250 — 250 YEARS ON THE ROAD TO LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS: Through Nov. 8. The exhibit draws from the museum and reflects a road trip across the United States, in which artists have recognized, responded to or documented changing human experiences.
HELLO SOPHIE — THE PICTUREBOOK ART OF SOPHIE BLACKALL: Sept. 11, 2026-Jan. 3, 2027. The Brooklyn-based Australian artist has illustrated more than 50 children’s books and has twice received the Randolph Caldecott Medal, in 2016 for “Finding Winnie” and in 2019 for “Hello Lighthouse.”
FLORIDANA — MATERIAL CULTURE FROM THE SUNSHINE STATE: Sept. 17, 2026-Jan. 10, 2027. View the Sunshine State as visitors experienced it during the mid-20th century through more than 130 objects from the collection of Gary Monroe, an American photographer, author and educator known for documenting Florida’s visual and cultural history.
THE WILD PATH — PHOTOGRAPHS BY CARLTON WARD JR.: Sept. 25, 2026-Jan. 3, 2027. A collection of 70 photos by Carlton Ward Jr., a National Geographic Explorer and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, will trace the wild corners of Florida that most residents and visitors never see.
TROPICAL LIGHT — THE ART OF A.E. BACKUS: Jan. 23-May 2, 2027. The exhibit of paintings from the 1930s-1960s depicts both Floridian and Caribbean scenes, as well as the artist’s lesser‐known portraits and Highwaymen originals.
FLORIDA PRIZE IN CONTEMPORARY ART: May 29-Aug. 22, 2027. The 13th annual Florida Prize will bring new recognition to the state’s most progressive artists.
ART OF THE ANCIENT AMERICAS: Ongoing. Art and artifacts.
Ongoing events
ACCESS FOR ALL DAYS: Sept. 17, Oct. 15. Free community days with additional entertainment and activities.
THE ART OF PAUSE: Sept. 15, Oct. 20 and Dec. 1. Through mindful observation, guided conversation, drawing and reflective journaling, participants will explore a single artwork each session while cultivating curiosity, creativity, and presence.
ART’S THE SPARK: Sept. 5 and Oct. 10. Through interactive tours of the museum’s exhibitions, Art’s the Spark gives those living with memory impairment or any other neurological impairment (such as early-stage Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease) and their healthy caregivers an expressive outlet and opportunity for adult discussion.
CREATIVE CONNECTIONS: Sept. 6 and 13, Oct. 4 and 11. This program connects visitors of all ages with developmental and learning disabilities and those on the autism spectrum to art and the world around them.
FAMILY HIGHLIGHTS TOUR: Sept. 5, Oct. 3, Nov. 7 and Dec. 5, 2026; Jan. 2, Feb. 6, March 6, April 3, May 1, June 5, July 3 and Aug. 7, 2027. Tours with children in mind.
GALLERY TALKS: Sept. 17, Oct. 15 and Dec. 17, 2026; Jan. 21, Feb. 18, March 18, April 15, May 20, June 17, July 15 and Aug. 19, 2027. Informal talks led by museum curators.
HIGHLIGHTS TOUR: Sundays (except Nov. 15 and 22). Docent-led tours of current exhibits.
SKETCHING IN THE GALLERIES: Sept. 5, Oct. 3, Nov. 7 and Dec. 5, 2026; Jan. 2, Feb. 6, March 6, April 3, May 1, June 5, July 3 and Aug. 7, 2027. For artists of all ages, supplies provided.
STROLLER TOURS: Sept. 9 and 23, Oct. 7 and 21, Nov. 4 and 18, Dec. 1, 16 and 30, 2026; Jan. 13 and 27, Feb. 10 and 24, March 10 and 24, April 7 and 21, 2027. View the galleries in a program designed for those with infants and toddlers.
YOGA IN THE GALLERIES: Sept. 27 and Nov. 1. Led by College Park Yoga.
Other events
A SOUND BATH EXPERIENCE: Sept. 5. This one-hour experience begins with breathwork practice before unfolding into a 45-minute sound journey featuring crystal bowls, gongs, chimes and Tibetan bowls. Led by Cait Rainey, founder of Conscious Nona and a wellness practitioner with 14 years of experience in the healing arts.
GRANDPARENTS DAY WORKSHOP — HELLO LIGHTHOUSE: Sept. 13. Explore the “Hello Sophie: The Artwork of Sophie Blackall” picture-book exhibition, listen to a reading of Blackall’s book “Hello Lighthouse” and create an ocean scene with a 3D lighthouse.
WISDOM OF WORDS — TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES OF WRITING: Oct. 10. Use paintings, photos and objects to inspire creativity as award-winning writer Elaine Person prompts you to write original stories, poems, essays and scripts.
FESTIVAL OF TREES: Nov. 14-22. A holiday extravaganza of designer-decorated trees, seasonal table décor, custom wreaths and novel gingerbread houses, presented by the Council of 101. This year’s theme is “Forty Seasons of Joy.”
THE GIFT OF WORDS: Dec. 12. Writer Elaine Person helps participants convert their writing into a work of art.
Clyde Butcher’s “America the Beautiful” exhibit is on view at the Polasek Museum. This photograph is of Indian Key. (Clyde Butcher)
POLASEK MUSEUM
The Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens is at 633 Osceola Ave. in Winter Park. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday. More information: 407-647-6294 or polasek.org
Exhibits
AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL — THE MONUMENTAL LANDSCAPES OF CLYDE BUTCHER: Through Dec. 6. Butcher’s large-scale black-and-white photography captures natural beauty from the redwood forests of California to the Gulf Stream waters and wetlands of Florida.
VICTOR BOKAS — A COLORFUL RETROSPECTIVE: Dec. 15, 2026-April 11, 2027. The Central Florida artist has been creating vibrant, dynamic, and whimsical art in Central Florida for the past 40 years, drawing inspiration from the state’s abundant sunshine and vivid flora and fauna.
FLORIDA SCULPTURE GUILD — IN THREE DIMENSIONS: May 4-Aug. 15, 2027. In honor of museum founder and sculptor Albin Polasek, this exhibit features contemporary works by Florida Sculpture Guild members, showcasing diverse voices, materials and artistic approaches.
SCULPTURE GARDENS: Ongoing. The museum features works by Polasek throughout its
lakefront sculpture garden.
Events
CZECH HERITAGE DAY: Sept. 13. In honor of the day Polasek immigrated to the U.S., the museum offers free admission to an afternoon of crafts, music, snacks and storytelling.
CLYDE BUTCHER LECTURE & BOOK SIGNING: Oct. 8. Two sessions with the iconic Florida artist; buy tickets in advance at the website.
STROKE AWARENESS DAY: Oct. 25. Free admission, with stroke screenings, prevention tips, a panel discussion and museum tours highlighting Polasek’s post-stroke works.
FAMILY DAY — CELEBRATING PHOTOGRAPHY: Nov. 1. Free admission, with hands-on photography activities for all ages.
19TH ANNUAL WINTER PARK PAINT OUT: April 18-24. Watch more than 20 plein-air artists painting at the Polasek Museum and other locations throughout Winter Park and Orlando. Completed paintings may be viewed online or at the museum and are available to purchase. More information: winterparkpaintout.org
The Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens’ annual Winter Park Paint Out will return for its 19th year. (Courtesy Polasek Museum)
ROLLINS MUSEUM OF ART
The museum is on the campus of Rollins College at 1000 Holt Ave. in Winter Park. Hours are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. More information: 407-646-2526 or rollins.edu/rma
Exhibits
BEING OUTDOORS — RECREATION IN THE AMERICAN IMAGINATION: Through Jan. 3, 2027. Presented on the occasion of the nation’s semiquincentennial, this exhibition highlights the strong connections between outdoor recreational activities and American identity. With paintings and prints from the 19th-21st centuries, it explores how artists have visually shaped American ideas of nature, recreation, community and belonging.
‘I REMEMBER WHEN…’ REFLECTIONS FROM THE RMA STAFF: Through Jan. 3, 2027. Works from the museum’s permanent collection that explore memory and storytelling across a range of media and themes.
THE HOUSE THAT FREEDOMS BUILT: Through Jan. 3, 2027. Artist La Vaughn Belle’s installation invites viewers to reflect on how spaces shape identity, memory and community.
TO IMAGINE A HOME: Sept. 12, 2026-Jan. 3, 2027. Curator Gisela Carbonell assembles art by Allen Fireall, Emilio Sánchez, Pepón Osorio, Yinka Shonibare, Becky Suss and others to examine the many ways we define and experience home.
VISIONS OF THE CITY: Sept. 12, 2026-Jan. 3, 2027. Paintings, photographs and prints from the museum’s permanent collection explore how artists have captured the energy, growth and complexity of urban life.
ANNE-KARIN FARUNES AND LILIAN GARCIA-ROIG: Jan. 15-June 13, 2027. The two artists take over the museum’s galleries to create immersive installations with their large-scale work. Furunes is a Norwegian artist best known for her hyperrealistic portraits, frequently of women. Cuban native Garcia-Roig, who was raised in Texas, features large-scale on-site painting installations of dense landscapes that overwhelm the viewer’s perceptual senses.
Allen Fireall’s “Uncle Harry’s Visit” will be part of the “To Imagine a Home” exhibition at Rollins Museum of Art in Winter Park. (Courtesy Rollins Museum of Art)
SEMINOLE STATE COLLEGE
The Fine Arts Gallery is in Building J, Room 109, on the Seminole State campus at 100 Weldon Blvd. in Sanford. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday. More information: seminolestate.edu/arts/events/gallery
THROUGH THE YEARS… BEST OF SHOW 1970S-CURRENT: Oct. 19, 2026-March 4, 2027. Award-winning student artwork spanning more than five decades of Seminole State’s Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition. The exhibition honors the legacy of Professor Grady Kimsey, who established the juried exhibition in 1969 and helped shape generations of student artists.
The Seminole State College Fine Arts Gallery will show award-winning student work from five decades. (Courtesy Seminole State College)
SOLANA FINE ART
The gallery is at 1104 Solana Ave. in Winter Park. Hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays. Opening receptions take place on the first night of each exhibit. More information: solanafineart.com
CHROMATIC JOURNEYS: Sept. 11-Oct. 16. Art by Ana Guzman celebrates the expressive power of color, memory and cultural identity. Victor Bokas brings a spirited counterpoint with his vibrant, graphic patterns and playful symbolism, drawing inspiration from his multicultural background and love of Florida’s whimsical landscape.
ATMOSPHERES OF PLACE: Oct. 23-Nov. 13. This exhibit explores how environments — real, remembered or imagined — shape our emotional landscapes. Ellen Kaiden’s watercolors often suggest the echo of a location rather than its literal form, evoking memory as much as observation. Orit Reuben complements this mood with pastel paintings that embrace the quiet radiance of everyday settings.
LUMINOUS PRESENCE: Nov. 20-Dec. 19. Through glow, reflection and subtle shifts of color, this exhibition celebrates the clarity and spirit that emerge as the year draws to a quiet, reflective close. From softly illuminated forms to vibrant fields of radiance, each work offers its own interpretation of presence — how we inhabit space, how we connect with one another, and how moments of stillness can feel expansive.
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
Exhibits are at the UCF Art Gallery in the Visual Arts building, 12400 Aquarius Agora Drive in Orlando. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. An opening reception takes place on the first day of each exhibit. More information: 407-823-2676 or cah.ucf.edu/gallery
CONNECTIVE TISSUE BY HANNA WASHBURN: Sept. 10-Oct. 9. Anthropomorphic sculptures from repurposed textiles, furniture, household items and other utilitarian materials that use posture and pattern to show how much we carry in our bodies at once: joy, silliness, softness, passion, strain and longing.
FALL FACULTY EXHIBITION: Oct. 22-Nov. 6.
FALL BFA EXHIBITION: Nov. 19-Dec. 3.
POLYVINYL DREAMS BY TIMOTHY GONCHOROFF: Jan. 14-Feb. 12, 2027. Works created from discarded advertising banners made of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), once ubiquitous along highways and commercial spaces, are transformed to raise questions of consumerism, sustainability and environmental degradation in our contemporary world.
MFA EXHIBITION: Feb. 25-March 12, 2027.
BFA EXHIBITION I: April 1-9, 2027. Students specializing in book arts, ceramics, drawing, animation, illustration, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture.
BFA EXHIBITION II, PART ONE: April 15-21, 2027. Students specializing in animation and visualization.
BFA EXHIBITION II, PART TWO: April 22-28, 2027. More work from students specializing in animation and visualization.
UPTOWN ART EXPO
The annual festival is at Cranes Roost Park, 274 Cranes Roost Blvd. in Altamonte Springs. More
information: uptownartexpo.com
14TH ANNUAL UPTOWN ART EXPO: March 13-14, 2027. Artists, chalk street paintings, festival foods and live music.
WEKIVA PAINT OUT
The annual event takes place at Wekiva Island, 1014 Miami Springs Drive in Longwood. More information: wekivapaintout.com
WEKIVA PAINT OUT: Feb. 22-27, 2027. Artists from around the country will gather at Wekiva Island and the state park to create masterpieces en plein air. Works will be displayed in a gallery and are available for purchase. Guests can watch artists create and attend a number of events, including a live auction and a celebration gala.
WINTER PARK AUTUMN ART FESTIVAL
The fest is hosted by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce in Central Park, along Park Avenue. More information: winterpark.org/aaf-plan-your-weekend
53RD WINTER PARK AUTUMN ART FESTIVAL: Nov. 14-15. Paintings, ceramics, drawings and graphics, fine crafts and jewelry, all by Florida artists, along with entertainment.
Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel
The Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, pictured in 2022, will be back. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
WINTER PARK SIDEWALK ART FESTIVAL
The organization presents its free annual event throughout downtown Winter Park. More information: wpsaf.org
68TH ANNUAL WINTER PARK SIDEWALK ART FESTIVAL: March 19-21, 2027. More than 200 artists will participate, with live entertainment, food and drink and children’s activities.
WOOTEN GALLERY
The Anita S. Wooten Gallery is on the east campus of Valencia College at 701 N. Econlockhatchee Trail in Orlando. Hours are 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Admission is free. More information: 407-582- 2298 or valenciacollege.edu/campaign/arts
DENNIS SCHMALSTIG: Sept. 17-Oct. 16. “No One Famous, Nowhere Special.”
SELECTED FINE ARTS FACULTY: Nov. 6-Dec. 5.
TREVOR DUNN: Jan. 14-Feb. 26, 2027. “Traces of Time.”
ANNUAL JURIED STUDENT EXHIBITION: April 8-May 21, 2027.
THERESA LUCEY: June 17-Aug. 6, 2027. “Strange Ecology.”
— Listings compiled by Matthew J. Palm