Fine Art

Mayfaire arts festival hands out $17,000 in prizes. See the winners

May 10, 2026 3 Mins Read


Lakeland Ledger

Updated

(This article was revised to include video.)

An artist from Bradenton won Best of Show at the 54th Mayfaire by-the-Lake fine art festival.

The Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art at Florida Southern College announced the awards for the annual festival at the conclusion of the first day on May 9. The festival continues on May 10.

More than 150 artists displayed their work around the shores of Lake Morton in Lakeland. The juried show handed out $17,000 in prize money for Best in Show, two Awards of Excellence, four Awards of Distinction, six Merit Awards and five Honorable Mention awards. This year’s awards were judged by Gabriela Gonzalez Dellosso, a painter of Cuban and Ecuadorian heritage whose work has been exhibited in museums throughout the United States and internationally, the AGB said in a news release.

Scenes from the 54th Mayfaire by-the-Lake art festival on Lake Morton in Lakeland, Florida, on May 9, 2026. The annual festival, drawing more than 150 artists, is organized by the Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art at Florida Southern College.

Scenes from the 54th Mayfaire by-the-Lake art festival on Lake Morton in Lakeland, Florida, on May 9, 2026. The annual festival, drawing more than 150 artists, is organized by the Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art at Florida Southern College.

Olga Nenazhivina, specializing in drawing and graphics, took Best of Show, with its $5,000 prize.

Here are the other award winners:

Awards of Excellence – $2,000 each

  • Heather Duncan, Lake Alfred — Mixed Media — Booth 32

  • Richard Wilson, Wendell, North Carolina — Drawing & Graphics — Booth 103

The artwork of Heather Duncan features brightly colored insects made from "upcycled" materials such as plastics, styrofoam and cardboad. At the 54th annual Mayfaire by-the-Lake in Lakeland on May 9, 2026.

The artwork of Heather Duncan features brightly colored insects made from “upcycled” materials such as plastics, styrofoam and cardboad. At the 54th annual Mayfaire by-the-Lake in Lakeland on May 9, 2026.

Awards of Distinction – $1,000 each

  • Robin Holt, Tallahassee — Jewelry — Booth 90

  • Paul Tilton, Venice — Photography — Booth 108

  • Ray McLendon, Fort Pierce — Painting, Oil & Acrylic — Booth 41

  • Magali Cereghino-Groves, Orlando — Wood — Booth 93

Merit Awards – $500 each

A mixed-media sculpture of a shark's mouth with forks for teeth, created by Jack Hill of DeLand, Florida, at the 54th annual Mayfaire by-the-Lake in Lakeland on May 9, 2026.

A mixed-media sculpture of a shark’s mouth with forks for teeth, created by Jack Hill of DeLand, Florida, at the 54th annual Mayfaire by-the-Lake in Lakeland on May 9, 2026.

  • Jack Hill, DeLand — Mixed Media — Booth 106

  • Trent Manning, Winter Haven — Sculpture — Booth 82

  • Oriana Gerez, Miami — Mixed Media — Booths 123/124

  • Danny O’Driscoll, Batesburg, South Carolina — Painting, Oil & Acrylic — Booth 135

  • Diana Zhang, Stuart — Photography — Booth 169

  • Craig Sacra, Lakeland — Wood — Booth 168

Wooden wall art by Craig Sacra of Lakeland at the 54th annual Mayfaire by-the-Lake in Lakeland on May 9, 2026.

Wooden wall art by Craig Sacra of Lakeland at the 54th annual Mayfaire by-the-Lake in Lakeland on May 9, 2026.

Honorable Mention Awards – $200 each

  • Inna Schoeler, Bonita Springs — Fiber — Booth 68

  • Johanny De Los Santos, Orlando — Jewelry — Booth 60

  • Mike Gibson, Naples — Jewelry — Booth 6

  • Peggy Miller, Melbourne Beach — Jewelry — Booth 46

  • Suzanne Bellows, Valrico — Mixed Media — Booth 8

The festival continues Sunday

Mayfaire by-the-Lake continues Sunday, May 10, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with free admission for all attendees.

Guests are invited to explore artist booths and enjoy local food vendors.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Bradenton artist wins $5,000 Best of Show award at Mayfaire



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