Pathways 2026: The Carlos Malamud Prize

This exhibition is the result of a collaborative partnership between the Rollins Museum of Art and the UCF Art Gallery at the University of Central Florida to celebrate and support emerging professional artists working in Florida. Juried by an external panel of three professionals from various areas of the art world, the exhibition features work by a select group of artists with diverse practices. The selection includes a variety of media, themes, scales, and approaches, showing a wide breadth of perspectives and experiences. Works by the finalists are shown at both venues, creating opportunities for engagement with two of the area’s major academic constituencies and their surrounding communities.

The winning artist of Pathways 2026: The Carlos Malamud Prize will receive a $10,000 cash prize, a solo exhibition at the Rollins Museum of Art in 2027 and will participate as a juror for the following edition of the exhibition. The winner will also receive additional professional development and support. This consistent engagement over time makes Pathways unique and transformative among other art competitions. It hopes to nurture emerging artists and provide a pathway to success, which coincides with the core missions of both presenting institutions.

The 2026 finalists are Alex Awuku, Cruz Castillo, Ebenezer Nketsiah Mensah, Lucía Morales, Michael Cannata, and Shayla Marshall.