The award winners of the 2023 Student and Emerging Artist Exhibition, “Metamorphosis,” were announced earlier this week during a reception that was hosted by the City of Ocala Cultural Arts Division in partnership with Magnolia Art Xchange.
Since 2016, the annual awards have been presented to local students and emerging artists with varying levels of experience. Over 45 pieces of artwork were submitted for this year’s exhibit, and they are currently being displayed on the first and second floor lobbies inside City Hall located at 110 SE Watula Avenue in Ocala.
During the exhibit’s opening reception that was held at City Hall on Monday, April 24, the following winners were announced in each category:
High School
- First Place: “Flying Through Life” by Athena Tarnowski.
- Second Place: “Transparent” by Yeymarie Cortes.
- Third Place: “North Pine” by Milo Moore.
One to Five Years’ Active Experience
- First Place: “What Doesn’t Kill You” by Brittney Santana.
- Second Place: “Under Construction II” by Laura Serdiuk.
- Third Place: “King Fisher” by Janelle Worley.
Six to Ten Years’ Active Experience
- First Place: “Sea Star” by Volodymyr Serdiuk.
- Second Place: “True Transformation” by Ryan Andrew Neumann.
- Third Place: “Incoming Front” by Ali Graves.
Best in Show
- “Parturition Portal” by Olimpia Cantillano.
The juror for this year’s competition was Shannon Rae Lindsey, an accomplished practicing interdisciplinary artist. Lindsey is also the Art Gallery Director and a lecturer at the School of Visual Arts and Design at the University of Central Florida in Orlando.
The prizes for the competition include scholarships to the College of Central Florida (High School Division), a professional art framing at Cartigliano Arts (Best of Show), a free class at Picasso’s Palette (Best of Show), an Artist Affiliate Membership to Magnolia Art Xchange (first place in each division and Best of Show), an annual membership to the Appleton Museum of Art and Marion Cultural Alliance (all winners), and a registration fee waiver for the 2023-24 season of the First Friday Art Walk (all winners).
The “Metamorphosis” exhibit is free and open to the public, and the artwork will remain on display through Thursday, October 12 at Ocala City Hall.
For more information, contact the Ocala Cultural Arts and Sciences Division Office via phone (352-629-8447) or email (artinfo@ocalafl.org); or visit the Ocala Cultural Arts website.