A Look At The Year Behind And Ahead
Orlando and I had so much to be grateful for in 2025- so we’re taking a look back at our top 10 biggest and favorite accomplishments. While there are too many people to name, we want to thank every single one of you that has bought, supported, shown up, said kind words, gave us an opportunity or worked with us. We are truly blessed in our community!
Orlando’s 1 Year Milestone
Orlando has now celebrated a full calendar year as a full-time artist! Orlando was able to quit his day job in the summer of 2024. He worked as a land surveyor for an engineering firm.
New Painting Studio
In spring of 2025, Orlando was invited to have a studio at ArtBomb Studios in West Greenville. He shares this studio with painter and gallery owner Griffin Cordell, and uses it for painting. He still has his studio at Greenville Center for Creative Arts, where he focuses on printmaking.
OVA Website Overhaul
Thanks to two grants (shout out to Metropolitan Arts Council and SC Arts Commission) and the help of our website builder at G2 Development, we debuted a brand new website almost a year ago. A cleaner, more modern aesthetic, improved layout, a blog page, an organized portfolio and and Event page were some of the main updates.
New Greenville Mural
The 2023 and 2025 classes of the Brandon Fellowship created a gorgeous mural for the new Family Trust Federal Credit Union on Laurens Rd in Greenville. The mural measures 18 by 82 ft, being painted between intense heat waves and severe pop-up storms. Other artists: RaAmen Stallings, Faith Hudgens, Alexander Rouse and Bella Bishara.
First Major Solo Exhibition
Orlando celebrated his first major solo exhibition over the summer here in Greenville, at Centre Stage. So many friends and supporters made it a huge success, and it even led to another amazing project (we’ll talk about that one later)!
Orlando’s First Exhibition Curation
Orlando curated his first-ever exhibition after being approached to create a show at Anderson University for Hispanic Heritage Month. He recruited several other talented Hispanic artists for a beautiful, diverse and heartfelt show: Memoria De Mi Infancia Y Sueños De Los Que Llegaron Primero (Memories of My Childhood and Dreams of Those Who Came First).
Brandon Fellowship Book & Exhibition
A decade of the Brandon Fellowship is celebrated and highlighted in the new book All Roads Lead To Art And Vice Versa, where Orlando is featured as an alum. An exhibition with the same title ran at the Abney House, featuring artwork from the alums involved with the book.
Prison Art Program
Orlando has partnered with Premiere Arts Collective to teach art workshops in correctional facilities, starting in autumn of 2025. Most recently, they made Christmas cards for loved ones using simple printmaking techniques. We hope to see this program grow and thrive!
Created A Musical Poster
Orlando was offered the exciting opportunity to collaborate with local playwright, Mario Suarez, and Centre Stage theatre to create the poster artwork for Mr. Suarez’s musical, La Zafra. In the works for over 2 decades, we were able to attend the run-through of La Zafra, and have no doubt it will become a hit when fully finished and produced!
Micky’s Big Milestone
In autumn of 2025, I officially became full-time as Manager of Orlando and Orfami Visual Art! I’m so excited to have more time to work on growing Orfami Visual Art and my career; I feel blessed to have such a great job that I enjoy and getting to work with the love of my life. We are looking forward to crushing 2026!