Downtown Arts District

3rd Thursday Opening Night at CityArts
2024-02-15 18:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | FL
Celebrate arts, culture, and history on the third Thursday of every month in downtown Orlando from 6-9 p.m. Presented by the Downtown Arts District, the 3rd Thursday Orlando series features art exhibitions, live performances, access to the History Center, and so much more.
Third Thursday Orlando’s continued popularity has sparked new and exciting partnerships with some of downtown Orlando’s most influential organizations including City District Main Street and the Orange County Regional History Center. Third Thursdays’ footprint now extends down the block from CityArts Orlando to the Orange County Regional History Center and Heritage Square.

Arts.

Check out the latest featured exhibitions at the CityArts 3rd Thu Opening Night Reception. Rotating monthly, there’s always something new for everyone at this historic downtown Orlando landmark.
6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

History.

Enjoy free admission to the Orange County History Center on event nights. Discover four floors of Central Florida history across an array of rotating and permanent exhibits, immersive displays, and interactive experiences.
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

CityArts Café Grand Opening
2025-11-12 08:00 - 15:00 | CityArts, 39 S. Magnolia Avenue, Orlando, FL, 32801, United States
Join us for the grand opening of CityArts Café, a new creative space nestled inside the historic Rogers Kiene Building—home to CityArts, downtown Orlando’s vibrant hub for arts and culture.
Stop by throughout the day to enjoy live music, art activations, coffee tastings, free samples, and exclusive merch giveaways. Experience a taste of Lavazza, Italy’s world-renowned coffee brand, now proudly served at CityArts Café.
Whether you’re visiting between gallery tours or simply looking for a cozy spot to unwind, CityArts Café offers a perfect place to sip, connect, and be inspired. Partial proceeds from the café will directly support local artists, helping sustain Orlando’s creative community.
Celebrate the blend of art, culture, and coffee with us at CityArts Café!
CityArts Café Grand OpeningWednesday, November 12, 2025 | 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.Ribbon Cutting & Remarks: 11:00 a.m.37 S. Magnolia Avenue, Orlando, FL

Third Thursday Opening Night Reception
2025-11-20 18:00 - 21:00 | CityArts, 39 S. Magnolia Avenue, Orlando, FL, 32801, United States
On the third Thursday of every month, CityArts opens its doors for audiences to experience new artwork featured in seven different galleries.
CityArts is a proud partner of 3rd Thursday Orlando: Arts. Making. History.

3rd Thursday Opening Night Reception at CityArts
Thursday, November 20, 2025
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Event

Austin Commercial Gallery: Bloomberg Pollinators Artist Exhibition
CityArts Cafe Gallery: “It’s All About Florida” Duo Exhibition by Holly Tharp & Heather Dartez
Upstairs Signature Gallery: “Thank you, Shadow, For Now I Am Free” Solo exhibition by Laura Buitrago
The Mahesh Chaddah Family Trust Spotlight Gallery: Solo Exhibition by Matt Duke
Side Gallery: Solo Exhibition by Daeu Angert
New Exhibitions in the Young Artists Gallery & Redefine Gallery!

Enjoy curator conversations!

CityArts provides parking validations for the Plaza Parking GarageONLY. The validation reduces the parking fee to $4.The Library Parking Garage is closer, but CityArts does not provide parking validations for that garage.

Thank you to our event partners:
– City of Orlando– Downtown Development Board– Orange County Government: Arts and Cultural Affairs– United Arts of Central Florida– Remixed- Austin Commercial– Florida Department of Arts & Culture

"Thank You, Shadow, For Now I Am Free" Exhibition by Laura Buitrago
2025-11-20 18:00 - 21:00 | CityArts, 39 S. Magnolia Avenue, Orlando, FL, 32801, United States
The peak of COVID-19 was a time of devastating loss worldwide—but for Laura Buitrago, it was also a time of rebirth and reimagining who she was and what she had to offer the world.
The Colombia native had tried other things—among them being an au pair in France and working with students in Cambodia—which led her to pursue a master’s degree in international development in Madrid.
That’s where it all fell apart for Buitrago, who formerly signed her work as Lajubu. “I was pretty disappointed in seeing the real world and how things were handled, the primary motivations being political and economic and just not really caring about the actual locals.”
The pandemic hit during a visit with her family in South Florida, making it an ideal time for a reset. She recalls: “During my travels, I would always do sketching and writing, but I never considered that as an option [for a career].”
But Buitrago’s friends believed in her talent and encouraged her to pursue art. She began painting, discovering her style and her appreciation for the human form, and soon started to receive commissions that supplemented her income as a scenic painter for an Orlando-based immersive experience company.
Even more importantly, however, painting became a way for Buitrago to confront the “shadows”—which psychotherapist Carl Jung described as the inner world that we avoid and seek to hide from others—within herself and to find freedom from negativity and self-deprecation.
Buitrago’s work, which recently expanded into sculpture, has gotten noticed: a People’s Choice award from Orlando Museum of Art, a Curator’s Choice award from SOBO Art Gallery & Studio, a grant from United Arts of Central Florida and an Artist-in-Action residency at the Maitland Art Center.
Her exploration of her inner shadows culminated in a collection of works that will be featured in an immersive CityArts exhibition. Thank You, Shadow, for Now I Am Free will run from November 20 to December 13.
“I believe our shadows exist to show us we’re not free,” adds Buitrago. “I believe they’re here to inform us and not deter us. We decide how we treat their relationship. Are we victims of them, or are we going to be empowered by them?”
CityArts is located at 39 South Magnolia Avenue, Orlando. For more information, visit downtownartsdistrict.com. You can also visit laurabuitragoart.com to see the artist’s online gallery.
Written by Cheri Henderson

Register for Third Thursday here

"Beyond the Box" Exhibition by daeuArt
2025-11-20 18:00 - 21:00 | CityArts, 39 S. Magnolia Avenue, Orlando, FL, 32801, United States
“Beyond the Box” is a bold, conceptually driven installation by daeuArt. This immersive presentation explores identity, self-perception, and psychological constraints through a series of vignettes, each examining themes like the inner child, self-criticism, and repressed trauma. The exhibition features textured oil paintings and sculptural forms, with the symbolic “box” serving as both structure and metaphor. The gallery itself becomes part of the work, inviting viewers to step inside, confront boundaries, and engage directly with the narrative. Through this interaction, viewers move beyond the box, becoming active participants in this experience.
