Oolite Arts marked its 40th anniversary with a milestone event: the 2025 Ellies, Miami’s premier visual arts awards. Dubbed “Miami’s Oscars for the arts,” this year’s ceremony awarded a record-breaking $600,000 in grants to over 45 local visual artists and art educators, helping bring their boldest creative visions to life. Since launching in 2018, the Ellies have now distributed nearly $4 million in support of Miami’s visual arts community.
Held on April 16 at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, the evening honored both emerging and established artists while spotlighting Oolite’s continued commitment to nurturing Miami’s cultural ecosystem. Attendees included arts leaders Jorge and Darlene Pérez, who were recognized for their ongoing contributions to the city’s creative growth.
Among the night’s top honorees was José Bedia, who received the $75,000 Michael Richards Award. Known for blending anthropology, storytelling, and Afro-Caribbean influences, Bedia shared how the award will support the fieldwork that fuels his practice.
“This grant is going to help me travel to communities I need to visit for my work,” said Bedia. “I make art connected to anthropology, so it’s important for me to go to these places and make relationships with the people.”
Bedia’s work is featured in renowned institutions including MoMA, the Guggenheim, Tate Modern, and PAMM.
The newly introduced $25,000 Social Justice Award went to T. Elliot Mansa, whose assemblage-based works draw on ritual and memorial traditions to honor Black lives and confront systems of violence.
This year’s Ellies also included a special $100,000 fund commemorating four decades of investment in Miami’s artists—an affirmation of Oolite’s mission to support creatives at every stage of their journey.
“Oolite Arts is vital for the arts scene in Miami,” said Jorge Pérez. “Without them, the programs we rely on wouldn’t exist.”
As John Abodeely, Oolite’s President & CEO, emphasized: “The Ellies are about helping artists bring their boldest ideas to life, and this year’s recipients are doing just that.”
