A Return to Espero
July 26 @ 11:00 am - October 5 @ 4:00 pm
Art & History Museums – Maitland
Join us for the opening reception on July 25, 2025 from 6:30-9pm: Meet the curator, enjoy live music by Shine, food truck, and a cash bar all just 15 minutes from downtown Orlando on our beautiful National Historic Landmark campus. Thank you to Red Bud Landscaping for sponsoring this exhibition opening! GET YOUR FREE TICKETS HERE >>
About the Exhibition
For nearly a century, the story of the Maitland Art Center’s founding seemed complete.
Then, the letters surfaced.
Recently discovered in the archives of the Curtis Institute of Music, an extraordinary trove of correspondence between artist J. André Smith and philanthropist Mary Curtis Bok reveals a deeper, more compelling origin, born of a powerful creative alliance and a shared vision for what Central Florida’s art community could become. Illustrated by Smith and brimming with artistic and philosophical exchange, these letters illuminate the origin of the Research Studio as never before. Paired with rarely seen works from Smith’s evolving career, A Return to Espero reframes the birth of the site as a profound creative partnership.
This exhibition is generously supported by a grant from the Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation
