Sort of Brutally Early Artist Meet-up
2025-02-26 07:30 - 09:00 (America/New_York) | CityArts, 39 S. Magnolia Avenue, Orlando, FL, 32801, United States
Join us for our monthly “Sort of Brutally Early Artist Meet-up” It’s an artist, art lover, art administrator meet-up. That means everyone is invited. It is very informal. Attendees can come and go as they please. – Enjoy complimentary coffee and pastries – Meet other artists, art lovers, and arts administrators – Check out the CityArts exhibitions. The Sort of Brutally Early Artist Meetup was created by curator, Pat Greene. This is a nod to renowned curator Hans Ulrich Obrist’s Brutally Early Club.

Orlando Mural Festival
2025-09-18 18:00 - 21:00
Downtown Arts District and CityArts, in collaboration with the Downtown Development Board, present the second annual Orlando Mural Festival on September 18 and 19, with a special panel discussion on September 20.
The festival launches during the 3rd Thursday event on September 18, transforming Downtown Orlando into a hub for large-scale live painting. Selected muralists will create 8×8 walls on Magnolia Avenue and 20×13 walls at various downtown locations, offering visitors a chance to watch each piece come to life. The experience is enhanced with live music and DJs, art vendors, food trucks, and additional creative activities.
The excitement continues on September 19 with more live painting, entertainment, and opportunities to explore the work in progress.
On September 20, select muralists will participate in a panel discussion to share the stories behind their work, answer questions, and offer insight into the artistic process.
Admission to all events is free.
Dates & Times:

Thursday, September 18 – 6:00 to 9:00 pm
Friday, September 19 – 6:00 to 10:00 pm
Saturday, September 20 – Panel discussion at 12:00 pm

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

16th Annual Día de los Muertos & Monster Party
2025-10-16 18:00 - 22:00
Día de los Muertos & Monster Event is a themed exhibition at CityArts Orlando and an outdoor experience with live performances, vendors, and more! Now, in its 15th year, the Día de los Muertos & Monster Art Exhibitions will showcase Day of the Dead and Halloween-inspired art created by regional, national, and international artists. This unique art exhibition will be paired with an outdoor experience on opening night that will feature food, drinks, entertainment, and spooky art vendors.

Thursday, October 16, 2025
CityArts (39 S Magnolia Avenue)
Exhibits: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Street Party: 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Cost to enter CityArts: Free
Suggested Donation: $5
Cost of the SUGAR SKULL EXPERIENCE: $50

Entrance to CityArts
One meal voucher valid at the street party food trucks
(2) drink tickets that can be redeemed at the indoor bar or street party bar

Enjoy throughout the night:

Art installations
Face Painting
Musical performances
Dance performances
And more!

EXPERIENCE NEW ART OPENING AT CITYARTS FOR DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS AND MONSTER ART SHOW!
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Thank you to our sponsors and partners

United Arts of Central Florida
Austin Commerical
City of Orlando
Downtown Development Board
Orange County Arts and Cultural Affairs
Remixed

Jazz in the Courtyard: Joanna Lung
2025-11-04 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!

Find the Light Within with Beatriz Bron
2025-11-05 18:30 - 20:30
Join life coach and author Beatriz (Batya) Bron for a transformational evening of phototherapy — a powerful process that uses images and words to access the stories your subconscious is still telling you. Through this creative and emotional coaching method, you’ll reconnect with what you already know and feel — and learn how to light the path forward from within. This live workshop is your invitation to pause, reflect, and reignite your inner clarity and confidence.

Reserve your spot here

Pottery Workshop - Hand-building with Clay
2025-11-08 16:00 - 18:00
Presented by Toasted Earth Ceramics Co. We’ll be making a building-shaped incense holder with a chimney for the smoke to come out of! No experience required; a stencil will be provided to those who would like one, or you can build your own unique shape! Decorate, embellish, and paint your piece however you’d like. Incense cones, clay, underglaze for color, and all firings included.
Hosted at CityArts in Downtown Arts District Orlando.
All materials and firings included.
Please allow 4-5 weeks for two separate firings to take place. Participants will receive a notification when their pieces are ready for pickup.
All ages and levels welcome!
Tickets are $50. To reserve your spot click here

Jazz in the Courtyard: Paul Van Wormer Jr.
2025-11-11 16:30 - 18:30

CityArts Café Grand Opening
2025-11-12 08:00 - 15:00
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

Cinnabar Film Series: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
2025-11-12 19:00 - 21:30
Join us at CityArts for our next film!

Come on in around 6:45pm and we’ll have snacks and drinks and hang out for a bit and then start the film around 7pm.
Check out cinnabarfilm.com or @cinnabarfilm for more. Full film announcements drop on the first of the month.

Register here

Monday Scaries: The Unprecious Comedy Show
2025-11-17 19:00 - 21:00
Join the Monday Scaries at CityArts for a night of unhinged comedy, big laughs, and questionable life choices (the fun kind).

When: Third Monday of every month, 7 p.m.

Price: $5

Jazz in the Courtyard: Steve Moore
2025-11-18 16:30 - 18:30

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.
