11th Florida Biennial | Art and Culture Center

Javier Barrera, Sheila Goloborotko, Bella Cardim, Anna Goraczko, Christopher Clark, Jeanne Jaffe, Elaine Defibaugh, Sophia Lacroix, Dana Donaty, Cynthia Mason, Christian Feneck, Cheryl Maeder, Brendan Garland, Raymond Olivero, Bonney Goldstein, Kerry Phillips, Vickie Pierre, Evelyn Politzer, Galal Ramadan, Alette Simmons-Jiménez, Aida Tejada, Cornelius Tulloch, Jackeuline Walter, Zaplaflora

Installations, Portraiture, Materiality, and Magical Realism
October 15 – February 5, 2023

Jeanne Jaffe

This year’s Biennial is the 11th edition, representing 24 Florida artists. It boasts traditional 2D media, video, installation, as well as innovative 3D pieces from Florida’s top artists. Works on unorthodox material surprise viewers, like a mattress with green hand knitted bricks by artist Evelyn Politzer. Traditional 2D works, such as landscape and portraiture ground the show. Central to the main exhibition gallery is a floor to ceiling giant caterpillar by Jeanne Jaffe, as a central theme of the 11th biennial is the “oddly familiar.” Repetitive imagery such as clouds, coral, and plants used in unusual ways help solidify this unspoken concept.

Sheila Goloborotko

Sheila Goloborotko’s “Sistema” greets visitors in a colorful room-sized display of coral made of handcut screen-printed Mylar. The work encourages consideration of the rapid decline of coral reefs in South Florida. It also brings awareness to the scientific initiatives in place to restore oceans with artificial reefs. Installation is used to create experiences that inspire curiosity and evoke pleasure, but also encourage deeper reflection on current events.Portraiture is popular throughout the show. 

Cornelius Tulloch

Miami Artist Cornelius Tulloch’s self-portrait emphasizes his African American and Jamaican cultural heritage. In a conversation with artist, he described the painting is representative of an interest in the Baroque movement. He coupled this interest in the deep shadows and sharp highlights with a desire to infuse personal meaning. He thus developed his own meaning by selecting highly symbolic, personal imagery reflecting his African American and Jamaican cultural heritage coupled with the traditional painting style. Symbols of the American South, reflective of his maternal heritage, are the corn, indigo and silver palm. Juxtaposed with the Southern symbology is the Jamaican imagery, reflective of his paternal heritage with the aki, mango, and banana blossom. Tulloch sees the work as an expression of identity as well as a way to redefine power and prestige.

Dana Donaty

Magical and almost fantastical sculptures are popular in the exhibit, from the cental larger than life caterpillar to the intricately designed and interwoven detritus of Dana Donaty’s “Ecosystems” featured in Gallery 3. The pieces examine consumerism and the waste we create, seemingly tied to endless wants and needs. She deftly remixes little toys, felt, flowers, figurines, paint chunks, tires, fake hair, keys, bugs and bulging eyed bunnies into a beautiful diorama overflowing with visual texture. The surreal object-heavy works command a deeper examination of our modern existence.

Whether you prefer traditional art styles, or enjoy meandering through abstract forms and light, there is a piece that will ignite your curiosity and enrich your view of our current times at the 2022 Florida Biennial. The 2022 Florida Biennial at Art and Culture Center/Hollywood is juried by Ylva Rouse and organized by Meaghan Kent and Joanna Ruiz. Meaghan is the Curator of Exhibitions at ACCH and Joanna is the Curatorial Assistant of Arts Aspire. Ylva serves as Senior Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Jacksonville, FL. The show runs from October 15 – February 5, 2023

Participating artists

Javier Barrera (Miami Beach)
Sheila Goloborotko (Jacksonville)
Bella Cardim (Key Biscayne)
Anna Goraczko (North Miami Beach)
Christopher Clark (Jacksonville)
Jeanne Jaffe (Boynton Beach)
Elaine Defibaugh (Miami)
Sophia Lacroix (Hollywood)
Dana Donaty (Boynton Beach)
Cynthia Mason (St. Petersburg)Christian Feneck (Fort Lauderdale)
Cheryl Maeder (Lake Worth)
Brendan Garland (Gainesville)
Raymond Olivero (Mount Dora)
Bonney Goldstein (Fort Lauderdale)
Kerry Phillips (Miami)Vickie Pierre (Miami)
Evelyn Politzer (Miami)
Galal Ramadan (Fort Lauderdale)
Alette Simmons-Jiménez (Miami)
Aida Tejada (Miami)
Cornelius Tulloch (Miami)
Jackeuline Walter (Aventura)
Zaplaflora (Jesús F Torres) (Hialeah)