Emerging artists from across Florida are taking center stage this summer as the Rollins Museum of Art and the UCF Art Gallery present Pathways 2026: The Carlos Malamud Prize, a collaborative exhibition and competition showcasing some of the state’s most promising contemporary artists.
Officially opening Thursday, May 28, the exhibition marks the third edition of the initiative, which was created to support and elevate emerging Florida artists through exhibition opportunities, mentorship, and professional development. The exhibition spans both institutions, giving artists the opportunity to engage with broader academic and public audiences throughout Central Florida.
Selected by a panel of three distinguished jurors from different areas of the art world, the exhibition features six finalists working across a wide range of disciplines and themes. Through ceramics, sculpture, textiles, installation, painting, performance, and multimedia works, the artists explore subjects including identity, migration, labor, storytelling, technology, memory, and cultural heritage.
The winning artist will receive a $10,000 cash prize, a solo exhibition at the Rollins Museum of Art in 2027, and the opportunity to serve as a juror for the next edition of the competition. Organizers say the ongoing mentorship and long-term engagement built into the program make Pathways unique among contemporary art competitions.
“This consistent engagement over time makes Pathways unique and transformative among other art competitions,” organizers shared in a press release. “It hopes to nurture emerging artists and provide a pathway to success.”
This year’s finalists include Ghanaian contemporary ceramist and mixed-media artist Alex Awuku, whose work examines oral storytelling traditions through clay and found materials; multidisciplinary artist Michael Cannata, whose ceramic practice has been exhibited internationally; and Winter Park-based artist Cruz Castillo, whose sculptures and performances investigate labor, capitalism, and production.
Also featured is Miami-born mixed-media artist Shayla Marshall, whose immersive works explore identity and Black cultural narratives; multidisciplinary artist Ebenezer Nketsiah Mensah, whose installations and sculptures address labor and migration through personal experience; and Peruvian-born Miami artist Lucía Morales, whose textile and installation works reflect themes of migration, memory, and community.
The 2026 jury includes Tenee’ Hart, the 2024 Pathways winner and a faculty member at Florida State University; internationally recognized contemporary artist Marcus Antonius Jansen; and Washington, D.C.-based artist and arts professional Sheldon Scott.
The exhibition opens with a reception at the UCF Art Gallery on May 27 from 5:30 to 7 p.m., followed by the official opening reception and winner announcement at the Rollins Museum of Art on May 28 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Additional events include:
- June 23 at 6 p.m. Virtual Artist Panel
- August 25 at 11 a.m. Exhibition Tour at UCF Art Gallery
- August 27 at 6 p.m. Exhibition Tour at Rollins Museum of Art
Pathways 2026: The Carlos Malamud Prize will highlight the diversity and innovation shaping Florida’s contemporary art scene while offering new artists a significant platform for growth and visibility.
