Opening Reception for The Orlando Museum of Art “Florida Prize in Contemporary Art” Exhibition

_{Article written by Ausar Amadi. Photos courtesy of omart.org & robduarte.com}

The Orlando Museum of Art is having its annual invitational exhibition honoring the “Florida Prize in Contemporary Art” which focuses on the production of contemporary art in the state of Florida, while also providing new scholarship opportunities with an accompanying exhibition catalog. This year, the reception will take place on June 11th, 2015, from 6:00pm to 8:30pm and it will be held at the Orlando Museum of Art (2416 N. Mills Ave. Orlando, FL 32803). The exhibition will run from June 12 – September 6, 2015 in multiple galleries.

Photo courtesy of omart.org

For the exhibition, ten artists will have their work put on display based on criteria that include artistic excellence, engagement with significant ideas, and achievement that is demonstrated by a history of exhibitions and awards. These artists include painters, photographers, sculptors and filmmakers. One artist will receive the “Florida Prize in Contemporary Art,” which is a significant monetary award granted with the purpose of bringing a new level of recognition to Florida’s most progressive artists and encouraging their ongoing contribution to the state’s cultural vitality.

Assistant Professor Rob Duarte. Photo courtesy of robduarte.com

Among the artists that have been selected for this year’s 2015 exhibition, FSU Department of Art’s Assistant Professor Rob Duarte will have his work showcased during the event. Duarte’s workplaces an emphasis on artistic production, pseudo-scientific research and lighthearted terrorism. In 2012, Duarte was nominated for the San Diego Art Prize, and he has participated in numerous exhibitions such as the Prospectives 09 International Digital Art Festival at the University of Nevada Reno, the New Children’s Museum in San Diego, EFA Project Space in New York City and the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts.