Since local artist Njeri Kinuthia came onto the scene in recent years, it's been love at first sight for Orlando art appreciators. Her bold style melds with her classical compositional training in large, wildly shaped, three-dimensional installations that often include long flowing textiles. Like a favorite draft pick who goes the distance, Kinuthia has gone from triumph to triumph, starting modestly but all building up to winning the People's Choice award at OMA's 2024 Florida Prize in Contemporary Art. "It was a night "filled with gratitude and joy," said Kinuthia.
Best of Orlando 2024: Arts and Entertainment
Winner: CityArts, downtownartsdistrict.com/cityarts
2nd: College Park Gallery collegeparkgallery.com
3rd (tie): Snap! Orlando snaporlando.com
3rd (tie): Hollerbach's Art Haus, hollerbachsarthaus.com
Winner: Orlando Fringe Festival, orlandofringe.org
2nd: Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, wpsaf.org
3rd: EPCOT Festival of the Arts, disneyworld.disney.go.com
Winner: Les Vixens Burlesque, lesvixens.com
2nd: Corsets and Cuties, corsetsandcuties.com
3rd: Mystix Burlesque, mystixburlesque.com
Winner: Orlando Ballet, orlandoballet.org
2nd: Phantasmagoria, phantasmagoriaorlando.com
3rd: Chance 2 Dance, chance2danceinc.org
Winner: Florida Film Festival, floridafilmfestival.com
2nd: Orlando Film Festival, offvirtual.com
3rd: Freak Show Horror Movie Festival, freakshowfilmfest.com
Winner: Benjamin Ptashinsky-Skinner, instagram.com/equityben
2nd: Carlos Navarro, iamcarlosnavarro.com
3rd: Tymisha Harris, facebook.com/tymisha.harris
Winner: Owl Goingback, owlgoingback.com
2nd: Ilene Lieber, zoeysadventuresbooks.com
3rd: Vanessa Frances, instagram.com/faaemusic
Winner: Ivanhoe Park Brewing "Solar Bears" by Chill Artistry, ivanhoeparkbrewing.com
2nd: Redlight Redlight and Grandma Party "Granny Panties" by Featherhead Studio, instagram.com/redlightredlight
3rd: Persimmon Hollow "Daytona Dirty Blonde" by Clark Orr, persimmonhollowbrewing.com
Winner: Rauce Padgett, facebook.com/raucepadgettcomedy
2nd: Ryan Holmes, realradiomonsters.com/ryan-holmes
3rd: Sabrina Ambra, sabrinaambra.com