Portraits of FusionFest Orlando Museum of Art · March 14 – May 4, 2025

In 2025, Portraits of FusionFest made history at the Orlando Museum of Art, where Juan David Tena became the first Colombian artist to hold a solo exhibition in the institution's history.

The exhibition presented 22 life-size portraits, selected from more than 400 photographs Tena captured during the sixth and seventh editions of FusionFest, Central Florida's multicultural festival. The sitters — immigrants who call Central Florida home — posed voluntarily and pro bono, dressed in the traditional attire of their cultures of origin. From Mexico, South Korea, Ukraine, Indonesia, India and Colombia, each subject was honored as a living ambassador of their heritage. So that none of the 400 participants would be left out, a digital display rotated every image alongside the printed works.

Conceived not as portraiture alone but as a statement about identity and belonging, the series reframes the immigrant story as one of dignity, resilience and contribution. Visitors stood eye to eye with the people who serve, build and care for the community every day — and, at the opening, recognized many of them present in the room.

Portraits of FusionFest was presented by Massey Services in partnership with FusionFest, the Orlando Museum of Art, Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs and the Consulate of Colombia in Orlando. Following the exhibition, a selection of the works was installed at the Office of the Mayor of Orlando.

"My art is a political statement without words. It builds bridges, not walls." — Juan David Tena