Sunny Spaces Art Contest

Sunny Spaces Art Contest. Shine your light and showcase your art.

Sunny Spaces Art Contest

As a part of the City’s 25th anniversary in 2022, we wanted to shed light on our talented local artists. Our Sunny Spaces Art Contest gives local artists the opportunity to have a lasting impact on our community. Artists either painted or hand drew an original 8” x 8” piece, incorporating the theme of a sun in their artwork. 25 pieces of art were selected as winners via blind voting. These winning pieces are recreated as an art installation at Gateway Center, 151 Sunny Isles Blvd. Stop by Gateway Center and take a walk through the outdoor breezeway, now called the “Gateway Artway” to see the winning pieces of art. The top five winning pieces of art can also be found at various locations around Sunny Isles Beach. 

We are excited to introduce our Sunny Spaces Art Contest winners and showcase their work!  

Sunny Spaces Art Quest

The Sunny Spaces Art Quest is a scavenger hunt that will take you on a journey through Sunny Isles Beach to discover hidden artwork. The top five pieces from the Sunny Spaces Art Contest are waiting to be found in various public locations around the city. To uncover their whereabouts, you’ll need to solve a series of riddles!

If you discover a piece of art, snap a selfie with it and tag us on social media using #SIBArtQuest to share your discovery with the community. Enjoy the quest!

Sunny Spaces Scavenger Hunt Clues(PDF, 1MB)

Announcing our 2023 Winners!

On April 15, 2024, we celebrated World Art Day and unveiled the new Gateway Artway, located at Gateway Center, 151 Sunny Isles Blvd. The artway features the artwork of 25 talented local artists who won our Sunny Spaces Art Contest. Each artist has crafted an original piece, incorporating the theme of a sun. Each year, we will be adding five new winning pieces to the Gateway Artway.


Anily Cona_1.jpg

Artist: Anilly Cona

Anilly Cona is a visual artist from Venezuela now living in Sunny Isles Beach. She finds inspiration in her life between New York City and Miami. She wants people of all ages to express themselves through art.

Taylor Waldroup_13.jpg

Artist: Taylor Waldroup

Taylor Waldroup is a self-taught artist living in Sunny Isles Beach since 2018. Waldroup has a passion for integrating nature and animals into artwork.

Pipe Yanguas_6.jpg

Artist: Pipe Yanguas

Colombian American photographer and artist Pipe Yanguas, specializes in capturing people’s passion. His art is defined by the exclusive use of dots and lines, conveying the message “we are all connected.”

 Ella Babakhanova_15.jpg

Artist: Ella Babakhanova

Sunny Isles Beach resident Ella Babakhanova, an artist and homeschooling mom, sees art as boundless self-expression. She believes art provides limitless freedom and inspiration to others.

 

Bella Sinelnikov_17.jpg

Artist: Bella Sinelnikov

Bella Sinelnikov, drawn to the beach, resides in Sunny Isles Beach with her husband. Immersed in the close-knit Jewish-American community, she finds inspiration for her drawings in her grandchildren’s love for the beach.

Leida Gonzalez de Cruz_3.jpg

Artist: Leida Gonzalez

Florida-based artist, Leida Gonzalez, has been working in various mediums, including painting and sculpture for the past 25 years.

 

Ana Milena_22.jpg

Artist: Ana Milena Tamara

Colombian American artist, Ana Milena Tamara, uses her classical realism training to not portray the glories of the past, but the simple pleasures of modern life.

 

Eduardo Martinez_23 (1).jpg

Artist: Luis Eduardo Martinez Mejia

Painter and photographer Luis Eduardo Martinez Mejia, originally from Bogota, Colombia, resides in Sunny Isles Beach for the past four years.

 

Alicia Carrera_26.jpg

Artist: Alicia Carrera

Mexican-born artist Alicia Carrera, fueled by a lifelong passion for the arts, discovered ample opportunities to pursue her artistic dreams upon relocating to South Florida

Pablo Martinez_19.jpg

Artist: Pablo Martinez

Colombian-born artist Pablo Martinez, now a Sunny Isles Beach resident over three years, brings the vibrant spirit of Bogota to his creative endeavors.

 

Shirley Ramirez Coll_25.jpg

Artist: Shirley Ramirez Coll

Shirley Ramirez Coll, a proud Puerto Rican, holds degrees in Science, Graphic Design, and Television Production from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico. A resilient individual, she embraces creativity and artistic passion, guided by her faith.

 

Tony Mendoza_4.jpg

Artist: Tony Mendoza

Tony Mendoza, a native of New York raised in Miami’s Little Havana, seeks to capture the spirit and vibrancy of South Florida in his artwork. His pieces have been showcased at galleries, museums, and art shows across Florida and various venues nationwide.

Daniel Podolan_5.jpg

Artist: Daniel Podolan

South Florida native, Daniel Podolan, dedicates his art to spreading equality and love, embodying a passion that reflects his roots.

 

Daria Petrova_16.jpg

Artist: Daria Petrova

Artist Daria Petrova, with nine years of drawing experience, has showcased her work at prominent galleries, including the renowned Louvre.

 

Albert Almarza Brea_12.jpg

Artist: Alexander Almarza

Sunny Isles Beach resident Alexander Almarza, residing in the City since 2016, considers it his happy place. For him, perseverance is an art, and art is his ongoing quest.

 

Kabira Foster_20.jpg

Artist: Kabira Foster

Kazakh-born U.S. citizen Kabira Foster, a former architect from Astana, Kazakhstan, channels her love for art in the realms of painting and drawing, showcasing a unique blend of cultural influences.

 

Andrea Ceron_8.jpg

Artist: Andrea Ceron

At just 7-years-old, Andrea Ceron dives into the worlds of swimming and drawing imaginary places. Her heart belongs to both her loving family and the thrill of travel.

 

Luis Garcia Pasara_18.jpg

Artist: Luis H. Garcia Pasara

For the past 19 years, Peruvian-born artist Luis H. Garcia Pasara has called Florida home. Embracing his passion for drawing and painting since childhood, he pursued studies in graphic design, evolving into a versatile artist adept in illustrations, cartoons, comics, and more.

 

Olivia Rey_14.jpg

Artist: Olivia Rey

Olivia Rey is a 12-year-old student at Norman S. Edelcup Sunny Isles Beach K-8. Born in Spain, now living in Sunny Isles Beach for the past five years, is a player at the SIB select volleyball team. She also finds joy in expressing herself artistically.

 

Rebecca Mullen_21.jpg

Artist: Morea Fen

South Florida native Morea Fen is inspired from the unique natural environment of her upbringing. Her designs and illustrations reflect a deep appreciation for nature, where colors capture the hidden patterns and compositions found in the details.

 

Tammy Seiske_9.jpg

Artist: Tammy Seiske

Tammy Seiske and her husband moved to Sunny Isles Beach from Wisconsin, after retirement. They vacationed here for 19 years and fell in love with the city. She is honored to have her art piece being presented in the city she holds close to her heart. Tammy’s favorite thing to do is sit on the beach and draw the beauty surrounding her.

 

Maria Cristina Pontillo_11.jpg

Artist: Maria Cristina Pontillo

Bio Coming Soon.

 

Elizabeth Tumpovskiy_2.jpg

Artist: Elizabeth Tumpovskiy

Bio Coming Soon.

 

Anna Bukhareva_10.jpg

 

Artist: Ana Bukhareva

Bio Coming Soon.

 

Vanessa Charles_4.jpg

Artist: Vanessa Charles

Vanessa Charles is an electric, eclectic, loud, and colorful artist. She is a self-taught artist from Haiti and moved to Miami in her teen years. While studying fashion, she gravitated towards art and illustration. Her specialty lies in fabric painting, especially denim clothing.