For the second year, up-and-coming artists will have a dedicated showcase at Mills Gallery in honor of one of Orlando’s late arts patrons.
The Win Win Emerging Artists exhibition, on view through Dec. 28, celebrates the “timeless spirit” of the late Michael Wynn, a Central Florida philanthropist and arts supporter who underwrote the Florida Prize at the Orlando Museum of Art. Wynn worked with Mills Gallery Executive Director Juan Pablo Santa Luna to develop a platform to elevate emerging artists.
This year’s selected artists are Jordan Carl Jones, Sophia Mitchell, Xavier Moss, Maia Osborne, and Alex Rogers. Although each creator has a unique style and unique body of work on display, they are bound by a common bond: working in paint-based media and sharing their personal stories.
“They turned themselves from the inside out and made themselves vulnerable. Through that vulnerability, they gave the observer permission to be vulnerable and speak about what we humans all have,” Santa Luna said. “People can look at one of these paintings and start voicing feelings they never said.”
At a VIP opening reception on November 20, Rogers was selected as the winner of the Jury Prize ($1,000 check and solo exhibition in 2026) for a painting depicting an intimate scene of transgender and queer joy in the comfort of a home environment. These scenes recall the works of Norman Rockwell and Paul Cadmus, one of the painter’s inspirations.
“I create a really comfortable space where the figures can be as authentic as possible,” said Rogers, who is a transgender man. “One can get a glimpse of everyday life, even if it seems strange or too intimate. I always try to make the viewer feel like they are part of the space.”
Moss was selected as the winner of the People’s Choice Award ($500 and a solo exhibition in the Lamp Gallery at the Mills Gallery) for her vibrant fluorescent paintings of flora and fauna drawn from the Bible.
“It all has to do with my journey of faith and my struggle with ego, pride and greed. I’m going from a point of ‘I’m not good enough’ to a point of ‘I’m flawed, but I recognize the things that trip me up,’ and there’s potential for growth from there,” he said.
For example, the wolf in sheep’s clothing represents Moss’s struggle with impostor syndrome, and the swarm of locusts represents his “gluttony” for validation.
Osborn’s oil paintings take a deeper look at the impact of school shootings, placing the viewer in the shoes of someone in a classroom during active shooter training or at the scene of an actual shooting. The emotional scene was informed by her first-hand experience at Piper High School in Sunrise, just 10 miles from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where gunman Nikolas Cruz killed 17 people and injured 17 others.
“My focus is to take the perspective of people who are in those situations. I primarily focus on the perspective of students, parents, school staff and the people who actually have to take them in and go through those situations,” Osborn said. “The immediate goal of my work is to warn and remind people that anything can happen and that the time they have with their families and loved ones is limited.”
Her ultimate goal is to stop school shootings through art and future advocacy.
Mitchell’s paintings transform her memories and family history into visual experiences that explore themes of childhood, loss, and nostalgia.
“This body of work touches on my memories and the frustration of fading memories. It also touches on my childhood trauma and past experiences,” she said. “I put my energy and emotions into my work.”
Jones’ paintings served as a way to overcome his past addictions, depression, and anxiety, turning heavy emotions into vulnerable expressions on canvas.
“I reflected on some of the things I’ve been through, including regret, seeking validation from others, and anxiety,” he said. “I love when the audience develops their own meaning behind the painting.”
All participating artists in the exhibition received a $400 gift card to Sam Flax to purchase art supplies, in addition to months of mentorship and support from other artists as part of the exhibition. The final group of artists was selected from approximately 45 nominees.
In the future, Santa Luna, gallery founder Boris Gabe, and Mills Gallery staff hope to find other opportunities to elevate emerging artists by offering residencies and studio space.
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If you go
“Winn Win Emerging Artists Exhibition” runs through Dec. 28 at 1650 N. Mills Ave. in Orlando. The gallery is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday by appointment. For more information, visit milsgalleryforlando.com.
