The Carlos Malamud Prize, a biennial group exhibition, opens this week at the UCF Art Gallery and the Rollins Museum of Art in Florida. The show features work from six emerging Florida artists working in diverse media, from traditional ceramics and portraits to unconventional materials like furniture and a Modelo beer can. The winner will receive $10,000 and a solo exhibition in 2027, and will serve as a juror for the 2028 edition. The opening receptions are split over two days: Wednesday at UCF and Thursday at Rollins, where the winner will be announced.
This prize matters because it highlights and supports emerging artists across Florida, providing significant financial reward and career-building opportunities such as a solo exhibition and a future juror role. By partnering two major Central Florida institutions—UCF Art Gallery and Rollins Museum of Art—the prize fosters regional collaboration and brings adventurous contemporary art to local audiences, reinforcing the importance of biennial prizes in nurturing grassroots talent outside major art hubs.