Downtown Arts District

Yoga Classes in the CityArts Gallery
2025-04-01 07:15 - 09:00, 2025-04-02 18:30 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | CityArts, 39 S. Magnolia Avenue, Orlando, FL, 32801, United States
Find your flow surrounded by art at Yoga in the Gallery at CityArts! Breathe, stretch, and unwind in a creative space that inspires both body and mind. Join us for a session that’s equal parts movement and mindfulness.

For Inquiries about classes contact (407) 927-5814 or Alex.PLA.Yoga@gmail.com

Drop-in: 15$
6 Class Pack: 75$
Unlimited Monthly: 90$
Acro Fun: 5$

All yoga & acro classes are designed for all levels of yogis from beginner to advanced.

Jazz in the Courtyard: Steve Moore
2025-11-18 16:30 - 18:30
Join us on Tuesdays from 4:30–6:30 PM in the newly renovated FORDify the Arts Courtyard at CityArts for live jazz music and great vibes!

Free event, open to all. Stop by, unwind, and enjoy the music!

Third Thursday Opening Night Reception
2025-09-18 18:00 - 21:00
Join us for 3rd Thursday at CityArts. Check out the seven new exhibitions, listen to live music, and meet the artists!

CityArts is a proud partner of 3rd Thursday Orlando: Arts. Making. History.

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PARKING

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.
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Featured galleries at CityArts include:
-Austin Commercial Gallery-Upstairs Signature Gallery-The Mahesh Chaddah Family Trust Spotlight Gallery-Side Gallery-CityArts Cafe Gallery-Redefine Gallery-Orlando Magic Young Artists Gallery_______________________________________

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

Third Thursday Opening Night Reception
2025-11-20 18:00 - 21:00
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
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

Art Pollination: Local Artists Exhibition
2025-11-20 18:00 - 21:00
The City of Orlando’s project, Art Pollination: Building Food Justice through Creativity, leverages temporary art installations to raise awareness and promote solutions around the shared challenges of food insecurity and hunger in our community. About 1 in 7 Central Floridians are food insecure — more than 500,000 people who don’t know where their next meal will come from. Through murals, performances, and creative programming across Orlando, local artists are using their voices and vision to spark dialogue, build empathy, and highlight the essential work of nonprofit food partners addressing hunger every day.
This exhibition brings together the work of 20 local artists whose installations have appeared across the city — from Parramore Main Street and the Orlando Urban Trail to the Mennello Museum of American Art, community centers, and food distribution sites. Together, their projects demonstrate how creativity can inspire collective action and strengthen community resilience.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
The mission of Art Pollination would not be possible without the dedication of our community partners, who work daily to ensure
access to healthy food for all.
• City of Orlando Departments: Public Art, Office of Community Affairs, Office of the Mayor, Downtown Development Board, CRA, Families, Parks and Recreation
• Art Partners: Mennello Museum of American Art, Downtown Arts District, and FusionFest
• Food Service Nonprofits: Black Bee Honey, 4Roots • Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida • IDEAS for Us-Fleet Farming
• Hebni Nutrition Consultants, Inc., and University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), Orange County
Their ongoing commitment to addressing hunger in Orlando provides the foundation for this project, and the artists’ work shines a light on the community’s vital efforts.
A companion exhibition featuring all 20 artists who have created new work is on view at Terrace Gallery in Orlando City Hall Through January 26, 2026.
PARTICIPATING ARTISTS
AKYRØS • Shree Chauhan • Alexis Collum • Roxy Cousino • Kellie Delaney • Tasanee Durrett • Nathania Guerra • Peterson Guerrier • Ha’ani Hogan • Carlos Jefferson • Christopher Jones • Marquis Lee • Delia Miller • Luca Molnar • Sinuhe Vega • SKIP • Mado Smith • PJ Svejda • Gina Tyquiengco • Shawn Welcome
ABOUT THE BLOOMBERG PHILANTHROPIES PUBLIC ART CHALLENGE
The Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge supports temporary public art projects that address civic issues. By engaging
artists, city leaders, and residents, the initiative fosters creative solutions that inspire action and strengthen communities

"Beyond the Box" Exhibition by daeuArt
2025-11-20 18:00 - 21:00
“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.

Artist Talk with Laura Buitrago
2025-11-22 12:00 - 13:00
Join local artist Laura Buitrago for an introspective conversation about her immersive and participatory exhibition, Thank You, Shadow, For Now I Am Free.
“All the root problems in our world stem from division and lack of understanding ourselves. It is critical to create spaces of unity and transformation through healing.”
Through this thought-provoking installation, Buitrago invites viewers to explore “the parts of yourself that you reject” and discover “the liberation on the other side of our Shadow.”
November 22, 2025
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Free to Attend
Register Here

Jazz in the Courtyard: Joe Fritz
2025-11-25 16:30 - 18:30

Wine Blending Workshop
2025-11-25 18:00 - 20:00
A night of creativity, connection, and custom wine crafted by you.

Create Your Own Wine Blend
Join us for a hands-on wine blending workshop where you’ll:

Learn the art of winemaking
Taste 3 red wines from different regions
Mix and match to find your perfect blend
Bottle, cork, and label your custom wine
Take home a one-of-a-kind creation that’s all yours

What’s Included:

Assemblage spritzer
Live jazz music
Guided session with our head winemaker
1 custom 750ml bottle to take home
Artisanal snacks and palate cleansers
After-hours access to CityArts Gallery
Great convo, new connections, and good vibes

Details:

Free street parking (after 6 pm) or $4 parking at the Plaza Garage with validation available at CityArts
Reservation required

Learn more and purchase tickets here

Orlando Story Club: Empowered
2025-12-03 19:00 - 21:00
Our “Best of 2025” Championship event is here!
Come celebrate an incredible year of storytelling, community and connection with us!
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Orlando Story Club is a live storytelling competition that takes place at CityArts Orlando (39 S Magnolia Ave). All regular shows begin at 7:00 p.m., doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Every Orlando Story Club event has a theme. Anyone with a story that fits with that theme can enter by putting their name in the story hat. Ten names are drawn at random. Each storyteller is given 5 minutes to impress the audience, and the top 3 tellers take home prizes.
It’s a night of laughter, fun, and connection! Join us for our not-so-serious storytelling competition! Come laugh, listen, drink, and help build our community!
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If you aren’t interested in telling a story, we love story listeners! We have an activity that everyone can participate in. What’s a one-liner?
It is an anonymous story (true to the storyteller) that can fit on one notecard and relates to the theme of the evening.
For example, if the theme is “Past Our Bedtime,” a one-liner is: “I truly thought there were monsters under my bed until I was in high school.”
Who reads these one-liners? Our awesome hosts, Danielle and Bobby, read them in between storytellers. Don’t worry. They won’t reveal your name!

All regular productions are hosted by Danielle Ziss & Bobby Wesley
Orlando Story Club is a program of The Downtown Arts District

Community Art Activity with Laura Buitrago
2025-12-07 12:00 - 13:00
Join artist Laura Buitrago for a community art activity inspired by her exhibition Thank You, Shadow, for Now I Am Free.
Her work, shaped by a period of loss, reset, and rediscovery, explores the inner “shadows” we often avoid, inviting us instead to meet them with honesty and freedom.
In this session, Laura brings that same spirit of reflection into a shared creative space. Participants will spend an hour making art together, connecting through process rather than perfection. No experience is needed, and all materials will be provided. Dress however you’d like, just come open to creating.

Closing Performance With Michelina Moen & Cristina Ramos
2025-12-12 18:30 - 19:30
Join us for the closing performance of Thank You, Shadow, for Now I Am Free, featuring performances by Michelina Moen and Cristina Ramos. With sound and light design by Kylee Taylor.
Their work, shaped by movement, presence, and emotional honesty, offers a final moment to sit with the themes of the exhibition: shadow, renewal, and the freedom that follows.
This performance invites viewers to gather, listen, and witness an embodied response to the ideas that shaped Laura Buitrago’s exhibition. It’s a quiet, meaningful way to close the show and honor the space it created.

Wine Blending Workshop at CityArts
2025-12-16 18:30 - 20:00
A night of creativity, connection, and custom wine crafted by you.

Create Your Own Wine Blend
Join us for a hands-on wine blending workshop where you’ll:

Learn the art of winemaking
Taste 3 red wines from different regions
Mix and match to find your perfect blend
Bottle, cork, and label your custom wine
Take home a one-of-a-kind creation that’s all yours

What’s Included:

Assemblage spritzer
Live jazz music
Guided session with our head winemaker
1 custom 750ml bottle to take home
Artisanal snacks and palate cleansers
After-hours access to CityArts Gallery
Great convo, new connections, and good vibes

Details:

Free street parking (after 6 pm) or $4 parking at the Plaza Garage with validation available at CityArts
Reservation required

Purchase tickets here

Sort of Brutally Early Field Trip Returns with a SunRail Visit to Art & History Museums of Maitland
2025-12-17 07:30 - 12:30
The Sort of Brutally Early series continues with another sunrise arts excursion on Wednesday, December 17, inviting early risers to experience one of Central Florida’s most beloved cultural landmarks.
Participants will gather at 7:30 a.m. at CityArts Café, at 37 S. Magnolia Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801. A complimentary coffee will be available before the group walks together to SunRail’s Church Street Station. The Northbound train departs at 8:23 a.m., arriving in Maitland Station at 8:47 a.m. From there, attendees will take a short walk to the Art & History Museums of Maitland.
At 9:30 a.m., curator Dan Hess will lead a private tour of the historic campus—an extraordinary site known for its distinctive architecture, lush grounds, and vibrant exhibitions. The tour concludes at 10:30 a.m., after which the group will head toward the Maitland SunRail Station.
Along the way, participants may stop at the iconic Kappy’s Subs, a longtime local favorite, for an early lunch or brunch before boarding the 11:59 a.m. southbound train back to Church Street, arriving at 12:21 p.m.
Event organized by Pat Greene.
