No time to dilly-dally when there are mosaics, murals and more to see. So let’s get to it, with a look at the latest from the Central Florida art scene

‘TIMELESS MOSAICS’: The Society of American Mosaic Artists’ annual international juried member exhibition is on view through Dec. 7 at the Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens in Winter Park.

Museum curator Tamie Diener-Lafferty and award-winning mosaic artist Ahmed Ibrahim have chosen the selections, including one by Detroit-based artist Michelle Sider. She credits the society with boosting her artistry. SAMA’s annual conference takes place Oct. 30-Nov. 1 in Orlando.

Another event related to the exhibition: An Oct. 29 lecture and demonstration titled “The Dazzling Legacy of Italian Smalti.” Mosaic artist Ellen Burr will discuss how smalti, an ancient form of glass art, connects today’s mosaic artists back to Byzantine cathedrals.

For more information on the museum, at 633 Osceola Ave. in Winter Park, and the events, go to polasek.org.

‘RELATIONSHIPS: A LOVE FOR COLLECTING II’: You may recall that in 2024, Dr. James Cottrell and Joseph Lovett gave a major gift of more than 300 works to the Orlando Museum of Art. Now, new pieces from that donation, which reflects the couple’s shared passion for more than four decades of collecting art, have gone on display.

“The Cottrell-Lovett collection is remarkable not only for its depth but also for its breadth, spanning abstraction, representation and conceptual art,” said Coralie Claeysen-Gleyzon, whose chief curator position is named in honor of the couple. “We are deeply honored to steward this extraordinary gift and to share it with the community.”

An installation view of “Relationships: A Love for Collecting II,” now on view at Orlando Museum of Art. (Courtesy Orlando Museum of Art)

This new exhibition comes with added poignancy: Lovett died in July at age 80. His obituary in The New York Times celebrated his pioneering work as a TV producer in shedding light on AIDS and gay issues during his career.

“This exhibition is both a celebration of Jim and Joe’s lifelong commitment to living artists and a tribute to Joe’s enduring legacy,” Claeysen-Gleyzon said.

Orlando Museum of Art is at 2416 N. Mills Ave. in Orlando. For more information, go to omart.org.

“The Dice,” a 1999 work by Sophie Calle, contains wood, leather, satin and ivory. This piece is edition 18 of 250, and is on view at Orlando Museum of Art. The intended gift of Dr. James Cottrell and Joseph Lovett is part of the “Relationships: A Love for Collecting II” exhibition. (Courtesy Casandra Hamilton via Orlando Museum of Art)

MORE MURALS: The Sentinel has previously reported about the ArtIsNow mural project run by Osceola Arts that brings colorful murals to the sides of buildings in Kissimmee and St. Cloud. Well, here’s a reason to celebrate the program’s success: The ambitious five-wall mural installation at the Orange Gardens Community Center in Kissimmee is completed and has completely transformed the building into a work of art.

Created by artist Deivi Sanchez, the mural tells a visual story of community connection, growth and celebration through the themes of the five walls. Those themes start with “the beginning,” with the sun as the origin of community, and continue with “Growth and identity,” “connection and unity,” “celebration” and an optimistic view of the future. All the walls feature images from the natural world to express the themes.

The Orange Gardens Community Center in Kissimmee has a lot more color after participating in Osceola Arts’ ArtIsNow program. (Courtesy Osceola Arts)

And there’s more: The mural features an interactive augmented-reality experience accessed through viewers’ smartphones.

There’s a nice synergy between the new art and Osceola Arts. While that organization undergoes a major renovation, its educational programming is being hosted at the community center, 1114 George St. in Kissimmee.

“This mural has transformed the space into an attractive and dynamic environment, reflecting its essence as a hub for creativity and connection while fostering a sense of identity and belonging within the community,” said Brian Camacho, public arts coordinator at Osceola Arts. “The combination of our educational programming and this stunning public art has created a true cultural renaissance in the Orange Gardens neighborhood.”

Mural program is putting more art in the heart of Kissimmee

But wait, as the TV infomercials say, there’s more: The next ArtIsNow mural is already underway. Look for “Naturally Round,” a celebration of nature, connection and the cyclical essence of life, on the walls of YoCuba Travel & Services, 700 Main St. in downtown Kissimmee. That work is being created by Jordan Jones, known professionally as JJ The Artist.

The mural will feature a vibrant color palette of oranges, greens and tropical motifs. You can catch Jones at work most weekdays between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., or reach out to Camacho at brian@osceolaarts.org to schedule a specific time to view the work in progress.

DUALITY OF ART: Orlando artists Dafeney Josue and one-named Angelo present “Duality of Art,” a one-night exhibition exploring contrast, collaboration and creativity. The free show will be 6–9 p.m. tonight (Oct. 23) at OIM Creative Studio, 1635 E. Colonial Drive, #146, in Orlando.

The event, billed as a celebration of Orlando’s diverse creative community, will feature live poetry performances as well as a collaborative unveiling of new work blending two distinct artistic styles.

“I See You” is a 2023 work by artist Dafeney Josue. (Courtesy of the artist)

Josue is a Haitian-American artist whose work highlights empowerment, resilience and cultural heritage. Using acrylics and mixed media, her art reflects themes of identity and healing.

Angelo specializes in portrait surrealism and realism drawing with a mechanical pencil. Inspired by Banksy’s social commentary and Dalí’s surreal strangeness, Angelo creates drawings that invite viewers to shift perspectives and explore their inner world.

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https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/10/23/polasek-orlando-museum-art-osceola-arts/