More than 45 artists and arts educators to be honored at a vibrant community celebration on April 16
As Oolite Arts marks its 40th anniversary, the organization is celebrating more than just a milestone—it’s doubling down on its investment in Miami’s creative community, and we’re spotlighting some of the Black artists who are shifting culture and telling essential stories through their work.
This year, the nonprofit is awarding a record-breaking $600,000 in grants through The Ellies, Miami’s Visual Arts Awards. Among the 45+ recipients, standout artists Jose Bedia, T. Eliott Mansa, Gregory Clark, and Sydney Rose Maubert are centering and celebrating Black life in their work.
Cuban visual artist José Bedia received the prestigious $75,000 Michael Richards Award, which honors a Miami-based artist with a sustained practice and a deep impact on the community. Bedia’s work is internationally recognized, appearing in collections at MoMA, the Guggenheim, and Tate Modern, yet remains grounded in Afro-Caribbean and anthropological influences.
“I am proud and honored to receive this award, especially since it came as a pleasant surprise to me and I wasn’t expecting it,” said Bedia in a press release. “As a local artist it makes me feel that my work is being appreciated and recognized by my community. This award will help me finance my ‘field work’ journeys that directly inspire my work, motivations, and artistic output.”
T. Eliott Mansa, who was awarded the $25,000 Social Justice Award, is known for his evocative assemblage pieces that draw from African diasporic ritual and memorial traditions. His work challenges systemic violence while honoring Black lives lost.
“Receiving the Ellies Social Justice Award helps give me confidence that the work is serving its purpose,” Mansa shared with Oolite Arts. “With the footing of this award, I want to pivot from just hope to actually prioritizing the community, and show that Miami is investing in and advocating for socially-oriented artists.”
Photo credit: @oolitearts on Instagram
Gregory Clark, a recipient of the 2025 Creator Award, is reconnecting Miami with its rich yet often overlooked musical past. His project, I Played Here, uses photography, oral histories, and archival material to explore the city’s lost Black nightclub scene—bringing to light the cultural spaces where Black musicians once thrived.
Sydney Rose Maubert is also pushing the culture forward with Still Tippin’, an upcoming installation that transforms full-scale car sculptures into monuments of Southern Black life. Through this work, Maubert explores Southern car culture as both an artistic language and a reflection of identity, heritage, and pride.
These artists are part of a powerful cohort being recognized for bold, meaningful projects. From drag performance spaces to public art installations and youth-focused creative workshops, this year’s Ellies reflect the rich tapestry of voices shaping Miami’s arts scene—many of whom are Black and Brown creators whose narratives have long been sidelined.
“Turning 40 is a big deal, and we wanted to do something meaningful,” said John Abodeely, Oolite Arts’ new President & CEO, in a press release. “The Ellies are about helping artists bring their boldest ideas to life, and this year’s recipients are doing just that.”
“Queen of the Swamp.” Credit: Passion Ward
Credit: Passion Ward
Founded by artist and community-builder Ellie Schneiderman, Oolite Arts began as a way to empower artists to empower themselves. That mission lives on through The Ellies, which, since launching in 2018, has awarded $3.6 million to local talent.
The 2025 Ellies awards ceremony takes place Wednesday, April 16, at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami. With a packed lineup of performances and tributes to Miami’s cultural trailblazers, the event promises to be more than a celebration—it’s a statement about the city’s commitment to its artists, and the stories that deserve to be told.
This is a Hy-Lo News Staff Report.
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