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Artist Masó Wins 2026 Florida Contemporary Art Prize
1 Jun
Summary
- Francisco Masó received the $20,000 Florida Prize for his immersive installation.
- His winning work examines surveillance and coded systems of power.
- The exhibition at the Orlando Museum of Art features 12 artists until Aug. 23.
The Orlando Museum of Art has announced Francisco Masó as the recipient of the 2026 Florida Prize in Contemporary Art. Masó, an Afro-Latinx conceptual artist born in Havana in 1988 and now based in Miami, was awarded $20,000 for his installation titled "The Coronation of Gladiolus." This immersive work uses painting, installation, and sound to explore themes of surveillance, repression, resistance, and coded systems of power, drawing inspiration from Cuban public demonstrations.
The 12th annual Florida Prize in Contemporary Art exhibition is open to the public at the Orlando Museum of Art. It features works by 12 Florida-based artists and collaborative duos, including Masó, Maria Theresa Barbist, Rose Marie Cromwell, and others. The exhibition runs through August 23.
Juror Jade Powers, The Hugh Kaul Curator of Contemporary Art at the Birmingham Museum of Art, selected Masó for the prestigious award. Visitors to the museum also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite artist for the People's Choice Award, which includes a $5,000 prize and will be announced on August 20.
