Orlando Museum of Art names Winner of the People’s Choice Award for Florida Prize in Contemporary Art

Following a public vote that lasted all summer long, Ema Ri has been recognized for a body of lyrical, large-scale floral paintings that turn memory, identity, and renewal into a shared meditation for visitors.

Photography by Zaire Aranguren, Rheo Creative

The Orlando Museum of Art (OMA) is proud to announce that Ema Ri has been selected as the winner of the Florida Prize in Contemporary Art People’s Choice Award, securing a $5,000 prize. The award, presented by AdventHealth, was decided by public votes cast throughout the summer, recognizing Ri for paintings that draw on a centuries-old tradition of still-life art, in which flowers and other fading objects explore transformation and vulnerability, serving as reminders that life is fleeting.

Ri is a second-generation Cuban American and queer artist working across painting, drawing, sculpture, video, and installation, with a practice centered on relationships and the natural world’s cycles of change. Their paintings blend the subdued palettes of Tonalism and the fleeting light of Impressionism into dramatic, organic floral still lifes. 

“I’m very happy and grateful to have been part of the 2026 Florida Prize show. It’s a huge stepping stone for me,” said Ri. “I often make work as a way to connect with people on a more emotional, spiritual level, and I’m glad to know the work is being well received.”

The People’s Choice Award is a key part of the Florida Prize exhibition, an annual exhibition that highlights the most progressive and impactful artists working in Florida. This year’s exhibition also features work by Maria Theresa Barbist, Rose Marie Cromwell, Jason Hackenwerth, Katie Hargrave & Meredith Laura Lynn (collaborative duo), Francisco Masó, Jessy Nite, Charo Oquet, Mette Tommerup, and We Are Nice’n Easy (collaborative duo of Allison Matherly & Jeffrey Noble).

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This year, for the second time, the public was invited to cast their votes throughout the summer, extending the voting period and providing a unique opportunity for the community to engage more deeply with the exhibition. Each artist showcased exceptional works reflecting Florida’s vibrant contemporary art scene, and Ri's artwork stood out for its scale and stillness, giving visitors a place to slow down inside a show built around urgency and movement. 

“Winning the People’s Choice award confirms Ema Ri’s ability to connect and engage with the many visitors who have attended the Florida Prize in Contemporary Art this summer,” said OMA CEO Cathryn Mattson. “We are deeply committed to supporting Florida artists and sharing their remarkable work with a wide audience.”

For more information on the Florida Prize in Contemporary Art, OMA’s sponsors, and upcoming events, please visit www.omart.org. 

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