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.

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.

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

Midnight on Magnolia 2026
2025-12-31 21:00 - 23:30
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
9:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
CityArts | 39 S. Magnolia Avenue, Orlando FL 32801
For tickets, click here
The Downtown Arts District is excited to announce its second annual New Year’s Eve celebration, “Midnight on Magnolia.” Presented by Valley Bank, this fun, private, and fresh event offers an elevated, artistic atmosphere, perfect for young professionals and the young at heart looking for a unique way to ring in the New Year in Orlando. Think chic, lively, and welcoming—stylish but not stuffy, and definitely fun.
The evening’s festivities will include live art experiences and entertainment, DJ John Willoughby and co-DJs performing in the first- and second-floor main galleries, live music by the Blacklist Babes in the gated, open-air FORDify the Arts Courtyard, party favors, confetti cannons, stilt walkers, a champagne toast at midnight, cocktails, gourmet lite bites by Johnny’s Fillin’ Station, and more.
$150 VIP Open Bar Admission

Courtyard & Gallery Access
Passed Hors d’Oeuvres by Johnny’s Fillin’ Station
Bubbly Toast at Midnight
Live Art Activations & Entertainment
Party Favors
Open Bar: Tito’s, Hendricks, Woodford, Bacardi, Hornita’s, Beer, Wine, Seltzer

$99 General Admission

Courtyard & Gallery Access
Passed Hors d’Oeuvres by Johnny’s Fillin’ Station
Bubbly Toast at Midnight
Live Art Activations & Entertainment
Party Favors
Two Drink Tickets: Alcohol, Beer, Wine, Seltzer, Bubbly

With the Magnolia flower as its centerpiece, Midnight on Magnolia offers a refreshing alternative to the typical New Year’s Eve bar and club scene in Downtown Orlando. The glittering event will showcase the vibrant culture and history of the Downtown Arts District. Attendees aged 21 and up will enjoy a welcoming, cosmopolitan environment—stylish yet comfortable, without being overly formal.
Thank you to our event sponsors:

Valley Bank
All Real Estate and Investments
CityArts Orlando
Downtown Development Board
Orange County Arts and Cultural Affairs
United Arts of Central Florida

The 2026 Midnight on Magnolia committee is chaired by Daniel F. Betancourt, with Lindsey Hahn, Samantha Klingler, and Stefani Lockman serving as committee leads. Downtown Arts District liaisons include Barbara Hartley and Teagan Carregal. Past committee members include James Matta and Ashley Samuels.
Disclaimer:
By attending Midnight on Magnolia, guests acknowledge and consent to being photographed and/or recorded during the event. Images and video footage may be used by the Downtown Arts District for promotional, marketing, and other related purposes in print and digital media. Attendance at the event implies consent to such use.

3rd Thursday Opening Night Reception
2026-01-15 18:00 - 21:00
3rd Thursday Opening Night Reception
CityArts (39 South Magnolia Avenue)
Thursday, January 15, 2026
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Join us for Third Thursday at CityArts. Enjoy drink specials, live music, curator conversations, artist connections, and seven new exhibitions. Meet the artists and explore what’s new in the galleries.
CityArts is a proud partner of the newly expanded 3rd Thursday Orlando: Arts. Making. History.
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Featured exhibitions at CityArts include:
Austin Commercial Gallery – “Silence is a Symphony” by Hannah Howells
Upstairs Signature Gallery – “Black & White” Group Exhibition
Side Gallery – To Be Announced
CityArts Cafe Gallery – To Be Announced
The Mahesh Chaddah Family Trust Spotlight Gallery – Solo Exhibition by Kellie Delaney
New Art in the Young Artists Gallery and Redefine Gallery!
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PARKING
CityArts provides parking validations for the Plaza Parking Garage ONLY. The validation reduces the parking fee to $4. The Library Parking Garage is closer, but CityArts does not provide parking validations for that garage. Metered street parking is free after 6:00 p.m.
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Thank You to Our Annual Sponsors:
Orange County Arts and Cultural Affairs
City of Orlando
United Arts of Central Florida
Downtown Development Board
Remixed

"Silence is a Symphony" Exhibition by Hannah Howells Opens at CityArts January 15
2026-01-15 18:00 - 21:00
Hannah Howells began photographing live music at an early age, drawn to the people and moments that exist beyond the stage, and has continued documenting through years of presence in local music communities. Her work is guided by closeness, finding meaning in shared moments, friendships, and the intimacy of being present.

Howells translates motion and feeling without excess. Each band, song, and moment is allowed to stand on its own, guided by its own energy. Her photos preserve the scene as it exists, honest, fleeting, and alive.

Silence is a Symphony runs January 15th – February 14th 2026 at CityArts in downtown Orlando.

Curated by Kyle Eagle, with a special thanks to Patrick Kahn

Exhibition of Work by Lester Leroy Amen Opening in the Side Gallery
2026-01-15 18:00 - 21:00
Lester Leroy Amen (1954–2014)
A Love of Drawing and Intelligent Experimentation
Lester Leroy Amen was born on 18 April 1954 in Omaha, Nebraska, and passed away on 22 May 2014 in Florida. Over the course of sixty laps around the Sun, Les lived a life defined by relentless creativity, inner turbulence, and an unwavering need to make sense of the world through art.
From an early age, drawing was not simply a skill but a way of thinking. Raised in Council Bluffs, Iowa, alongside his brothers Tom and Marty, Les showed uncommon visual sensitivity as a child. His talent was formally recognized in junior high school when he received an American Legion art award in 1970—an early affirmation of a lifelong relationship with line, form, and experimentation.
In 1971, the Amen family relocated to Lancaster, Texas, where Les graduated from high school in 1973. Shortly after, he left home and hitchhiked across the country, entering a pivotal period marked by exploration, instability, and intensity. These years—restless and unresolved—eventually prompted him to enlist in the United States Marine Corps, an inflection point that brought structure and discipline to both his life and his art.
While serving in the Marine Corps, including time stationed at Quantico and in the Philippines, Les’s artistic abilities were formally recognized. He was encouraged to document Marine Corps activities visually and to work continuously from life, carrying sketchbooks and painting directly in the field. His dedication and rapid improvement led to the accession of eleven of his works into the U.S. Marine Corps Museum Art Collection. Five of these were selected for the “Every Clime and Place…” exhibition—an uncommon achievement for a first-time exhibitor—and one received an award in the annual Combat Correspondents contest.
In a February 1985 letter, the Curator of Art for the Marine Corps wrote that Amen possessed “an open mind, a love of drawing and intelligent experimentation, a capacity for hard work, and a strong sense of responsibility.” That phrase—a love of drawing and intelligent experimentation—would come to define Les’s life’s work quietly.
Following his honorable discharge in 1981, Les continued to pursue art seriously. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, D.C., in 1988. During this period, he also worked in sculpture; one notable piece—a figure depicting a man struggling while carrying a burden—was sold to a downtown Washington law firm, an extraordinary achievement for a student and a recurring thematic expression of Les’s inner world.
Les also expressed himself through music, playing guitar and performing in several bands. Whether through sound or image, improvisation and intensity were constant threads. Expression was never optional; it was essential. Despite formal training and moments of institutional recognition, Les’s life remained unsettled. He carried deep internal tension, and his path was often marked by conflict and restlessness. During a later chapter of his life, following his divorce, Les spent approximately one year incarcerated in Fairfax County Jail because of a personal dispute unrelated to his former spouse.
It is from this period that some of his most compelling and revealing works emerged.
Working with severely limited materials, Les created dense, intricate compositions on grocery bags and discarded paper—surfaces never intended for preservation. These works are not exercises in despair but acts of defiance. Every inch is activated. Space is filled, reworked, and layered, as if drawing itself were a means of survival. Language appears within the image. Symbols collide with figures. Order wrestles with chaos. Confinement becomes both subject and condition.
These pieces do not ask for sympathy. They ask for attention.
Though Les produced thousands of works over his lifetime, he rarely sold them. Art was given away, left behind, lost, or carried forward with him. What remains today—approximately one hundred preserved works—represents only a fragment of his output, but a powerful one. Together, they form a visual record of persistence: an artist who continued to draw regardless of recognition, circumstance, or outcome.
In his final years, Les was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, a battle he faced for more than a year. He passed away in Florida in May 2014 and was reunited with his brothers near the end of his life.

Black & White Group Exhibition Opens in the Signature Gallery at CityArts
2026-01-15 18:00 - 21:00
This exhibition explores the expressive power of black and white, where contrast, texture, and form take center stage. Stripped of color, each work invites viewers to focus on mood, composition, and emotion. Proving that limitation can often spark the strongest creativity. Featuring a range of artistic approaches and mediums, this show highlights how artists use just two tones to tell compelling visual stories and evoke powerful responses.
Featured Artists:

isomo ART | Angelo Vazquez | Charles Cain | Raudel Caballero | Roland Cruse | Kevin Morris | Alina Blaga-Smith | Christine Armstrong | Sarah Doe | Samantha Levine | Shanice Martin | Herblish | Kimberly Myers | George Stuart | Juan Sostre | Marie of Bovasso | Kyle Daniels | John Coleman | Nicholas Flood | John Anzel | Ronnell Mitchell | Jeremy Accimè | Adriana Morell | Charlott Neal | Justin Campbell | Varina H | Thomas Kehr | Kurt Meister | Ann Heilbron | Alfredo Barranco | Victoria Peterson | Alexa Rodriguez | Grace Garvey | tic bowen | Alicia Michelle | Ashley Hurst | Nancy Goodwine Wozniak | Tina Notrika | Amanda Cortes | Ryan Parker | Donald Kratt | John Baker | Chuave Fernández | Brandon Smith | Elise Hartwell | Jason Littlefield | Kelvin Thompson Jr | Elsie Michielsens | Abismael Ruiz | Alexander Capeneka | Killian Figueroa

On view January 15, 2026 – February 14, 2026 in the Signature Gallery

"The Light and the Lore" by Kellie Delaney Opens in the Spotlight Gallery
2026-01-15 18:00 - 21:00
Kellie’s work is inspired by fantasy, folklore, and mythology. She has always loved reading, and her paintings grow out of a lifelong connection to imagined worlds and mythical narratives. Using acrylic paint, she brings these stories to life through color and characters, with light playing a central role in her process. Her use of glow adds a magical, otherworldly quality to each scene. Through her paintings, Kellie invites viewers to step into a world shaped by imagination and story.
On view January 15, 2026 – February 14, 2026
