Luminous Presence is a celebration of creators and their contributions to the success of Solana Fine Art, which is marking its second year. There’ll be work from all of the gallery’s 32 represented artists, including Holly Irwin and Lorra Kurtz. | Courtesy Solana Fine Art
When Solana Fine Art opened its doors in Winter Park in December 2024, founder Bob Jimenez’s goal was to help connect people with art and with one another. His approach was shaped by a high-profile career as a corporate communicator with a lifelong passion for creators and creativity.
“At Solana, each artist’s voice contributes something to our shared experience,” says Jimenez. Consequently, the gallery has featured exhibitions on everything from fashion to artificial intelligence to architectural abstraction while making the vibrant venue a cornerstone of the cultural scene in Winter Park.
To celebrate, Jimenez will bring all 32 of the artists represented by Solana together for an exhibition, Luminous Presence, which gets underway on Friday, November 20. An opening reception is slated for that evening from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
It’s a salute to the creators and their contributions to the gallery’s rapid rise to prominence. “Together these artists tell the story of who Solana is and what we’ve built over the past two years,” says Jimenez.
He adds: “Every artist has a place in that story, which is why every artist belongs in this show. Luminous Presence is our way of saying thank you to the artists who have trusted us, to the collectors who have supported us and to the community that has welcomed us.”
While many artists from Solana’s roster hail from Florida and the Southeast, others from as far north as New York and Massachusetts are also integral. Jimenez, therefore, is confident that Luminous Presence will have something for everyone to enjoy.
Indeed, he describes a genre-spanning selection that will include everything from abstraction to impressionism to realism, along with pop-influenced creations that use oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, mixed media, collage, pencil, charcoal, ink and marker. Also included will be 3-D glass and ceramic works.
In general, the pieces on display will utilize glow, reflection and subtle color shifts to explore different interpretations of “presence,” adds Jimenez, and to examine how humans inhabit space, connect with one another and find expansive meaning in quiet moments of stillness.
Jimenez says timing this particular exhibition—which will close December 19—is intentional and particularly meaningful. “The holidays naturally invite us to slow down, reflect, gather with others and appreciate the people and experiences that have shaped the year,” he notes. “We wanted Luminous Presence to have that same sense of warmth and discovery.”
Solana Fine Art is located at 1104 Solana Avenue, Winter Park. For more information, visit solanafineart.com or call 321.972.1774.
