{"id":65501,"date":"2025-11-30T16:12:09","date_gmt":"2025-11-30T16:12:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/65501\/"},"modified":"2025-11-30T16:12:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-30T16:12:09","slug":"winn-win-exhibition-at-mills-gallery-spotlights-emerging-artists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/65501\/","title":{"rendered":"Winn Win exhibition at Mills Gallery spotlights emerging artists"},"content":{"rendered":"

For a second year, emerging artists have a dedicated showcase at the Mills Gallery<\/a> in an exhibition that honors one of Orlando\u2019s late art benefactors.<\/p>\n

The Winn Win Emerging Artists Exhibition<\/a>, on display now through Dec. 28, recognizes the \u201cenduring spirit\u201d of the late Michael Winn<\/a>, a Central Florida philanthropist and art supporter who underwrote the Florida Prize at Orlando Museum of Art. Winn worked in tandem with Juan Pablo Santa Luna<\/a>, Mills Gallery\u2019s executive director, to develop a platform for elevating emerging artists.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s chosen artists are Jordan Carl Jones, Sophia Mitchell, Xavier Moss, Mya Osborne and Alex Rogers. While each of the creators has unique styles and distinct bodies of work on display, they are bound by the common ties of working in paint-based media and sharing personal stories.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey took themselves from the inside out and made themselves vulnerable. Through their vulnerability, they give permission to the observer to be vulnerable and talk about the things that we, as humans, all have,\u201d Santa Luna said. \u201cPeople can look at one of these paintings and start vocalizing their feelings that they never talk about.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"GalleryGallery partners Boris Garbe, far left, and Juan Pablo Santa Luna, far right, stand with emerging artists, from left, Mya Osborne, Alex Rogers, Jordan Carl Jones, Xavier Moss and Sophia Mitchell at the Mills Gallery in Orlando. (Patrick Connolly\/Orlando Sentinel)<\/p>\n

During a VIP opening reception on Nov. 20, Rogers was chosen as the winner of the Judge\u2019s Prize \u2014 a $1,000 check and a solo exhibition in 2026 \u2014 for his paintings that show intimate scenes of transgender and queer joy in comfortable home environments. The scenes evoke the work of Norman Rockwell or Paul Cadmus, one of the painter\u2019s inspirations.<\/p>\n

\u201cI create these really comfortable spaces where figures are able to be as authentic as possible,\u201d said Rogers, who is a transgender man. \u201cPeople get a window into day-to-day life, even if it\u2019s considered bizarre or too intimate. I always try to make it so that the viewer feels like they\u2019re a part of the space.\u201d<\/p>\n

Moss was selected as the winner of the People\u2019s Choice Award \u2014 $500 and a solo exhibition in the Lump Gallery within the Mills Gallery \u2014 for his vibrant fluorescent paintings depicting flora and fauna taken from Scripture.<\/p>\n

\"ArtistArtist Xavier Moss stands in front of his paintings during an opening reception for the Winn Win Emerging Artists Exhibition. (Patrick Connolly\/Orlando Sentinel)<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of it has to do with my faith journey and struggles with ego, pride and lust. I\u2019m going from a point of \u2018I am bad\u2019 to \u2018I\u2019m flawed, but I recognize the things that will trip me up.\u2019 And there can be growth from that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

For example, a wolf in sheep\u2019s clothing represents Moss\u2019s struggle with imposter syndrome, or a plague of locusts represents a \u201cgluttony\u201d for validation.<\/p>\n

Osborne\u2019s oil paintings take a deeper look into the impact of school shootings, putting the viewer in the position of someone in a classroom during an active shooter drill or a real active shooter situation. The poignant scenes were informed by her firsthand experience at Piper High School in Sunrise, which sits just 10 miles from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where gunman Nikolas Cruz killed 17 people and injured 17 others.<\/p>\n

\"AA large oil painting by Mya Osborne depicts the inside of a classroom during a school shooter situation during an opening reception for the Winn Win Emerging Artists Exhibition at the Mills Gallery. (Patrick Connolly\/Orlando Sentinel)<\/p>\n

\u201cMy focus is putting you in the perspective of the people in that situation. I mainly focus on the perspective of students, parents, school staff and people who really have to embrace them and go through those situations,\u201d Osborne said. \u201cMy immediate goal for my work is to serve as a warning and a reminder that anything can happen and that you only have so much time with your family and your loved ones.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her ultimate goal is to stop school shootings through her art and future advocacy efforts.<\/p>\n

Mitchell\u2019s paintings transform her memories and family histories into visual experiences exploring themes of childhood, loss and nostalgia.<\/p>\n

\"ArtistArtist Sophia Mitchell stands in front of her paintings. (Patrick Connolly\/Orlando Sentinel)<\/p>\n

\u201cThis body of work touches on my memories and the frustration of memories fading away. It\u2019s also working through trauma and past experiences in my childhood,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s me putting my energy and those feelings into my work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jones\u2019s paintings served as a way to work through his past addiction, depression and anxiety, transforming heavy emotions into vulnerable expressions on canvas.<\/p>\n

\u201cI took a look back into some of the things that I was going through, whether it was remorse or looking for validation from other people, or anxiety,\u201d he said. \u201cI love for the audience to develop their own meaning behind the painting.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"TheThe paintings of Jordan Carl Jones are a reflection of working through addiction, anxiety and depression. (Patrick Connolly\/Orlando Sentinel)<\/p>\n

All of the artists in the exhibition received a $400 gift card to Sam Flax<\/a> to purchase art supplies, in addition to months of mentorship and support from other artists as a part of the exhibition. The final group of artists was chosen from a pool of about 45 candidates.<\/p>\n

In the future, Santa Luna, gallery founder Boris Garbe and the Mills Gallery staff hope to find other opportunities to elevate emerging artists by providing residency opportunities and studio space.<\/p>\n

Find me\u00a0@PConnPie on Instagram<\/a>\u00a0or send me an email:\u00a0pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com<\/a>. Stay up to date with our latest travel, arts and events coverage by subscribing to our newsletters at\u00a0orlandosentinel.com\/newsletters<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you go<\/p>\n

The Winn Win Emerging Artists Exhibition is on display through Dec. 28 at 1650 N. Mills Ave. in Orlando. The gallery is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and by appointment on Sunday. For more information, visit millsgalleryoforlando.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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