The Ellies 2026

BIG NEWS! The Inaugural Oolite Arts Auction is here. You can learn about the Ellies Awards Artist Host Committee participating in this auction and register to bid VIA THIS LINK.

Artists participating in the Inaugural Oolite Arts Auction will receive up to 50% of the sales. 

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The Ellies—Oolite Arts Awards: Celebrating the Foundation for What’s Next will take place on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at 1111 Lincoln Road, 5:30 - 10 PM.

On behalf of Honorary Chairs Jorge M. Pérez and Darlene Pérez, Co-Chairs Sergio García Granados and Tanya Brillembourg, the Board of Directors of Oolite Arts, and the Artists Host Committee, we are thrilled to invite our friends and supporters to join us in celebrating the 2026 winners and honorees Mario Cader-Frech and Robert S. Wennett for their visionary leadership and enduring contributions to the advancement of arts and culture, including their work cultivating research into and the global dissemination of Central American art and its diaspora through the Museo Reina Sofía’s Cader Institute of Central American Art (ICAC) and Y.ES Contemporary. They are also recognized for their pivotal role as founding members of the Art Basel Global Patrons Committee, as well as for their continued patronage of Miami’s arts institutions and artists.

The Ellies—Oolite Arts Awards were established in 2018 to honor the spirit of our founder, Ellie Schneiderman, her love of the arts, her boundless curiosity, and her belief in creativity as a powerful, unifying force.

The awards are presented across four categories: the Lifetime Achievement, inspired by Michael Richards, honoring an artist whose career has made a profound and enduring impact on South Florida’s cultural landscape; the Better World Award, recognizing artists whose work sparks dialogue around vital issues such as social justice, climate change, gender equality, and racial equity; the Teacher Travel Awards, providing five grants of $5,000 each to support travel opportunities for Miami-Dade public school educators to enrich their classroom curriculum; and the Creator Awards, empowering artists living and working in South Florida.

With artists at the heart of our mission, we are proud to introduce the Ellies Awards Artist Host Committee, led by accomplished Oolite Arts alumni whose careers continue to inspire our community. As part of the celebration, the Host committee will participate in the first Ellies Oolite Arts Auction, opening in March 2026

Ellies Awards Artist Host Committee

Luisa Basnuevo
Ariel Baron Robbins
Leo Castañeda
Jen Clay
Yanira Collado
Mark Fleuridor
Gonzalo Fuenmayor
Pepe Mar
Charo Oquet
Marielle Plaisir
Anastasia Samoylova
Kristen Thiele

The Ellies—Oolite Arts Awards are now unrestricted and open to artists living and working across Miami-Dade, Broward, Monroe, and Palm Beach counties, reflecting our commitment to meet artists where they are and support their growth as they seek new, affordable spaces to create and thrive. This year, the winning artists will collectively receive $425,000 in direct financial support, with an additional $75,000 in direct artist support through acquisitions, bringing the total awards to an outstanding $4.1 million in support through the eighth editions of South Florida’s premiere art award program.

Your support will provide vital resources that empower artists to create, connect, and grow through residencies, exhibitions, and public programs, fueling the continued vibrancy of our cultural community.

For tailored information regarding support levels, check and wire payments, and corporate sponsorships, contact Nuria Richards at nrichards@oolitearts.org.

To be included in the printed program, please confirm your participation by March 23.