Exhibition: February 6 – March 7, 2026 | Reception: February 20, 2026 (6–10 PM) | Free and open to the public
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL (January 2026) — Resident Melisa Caprio along with collaboARTive returns to 1310 Gallery at Sailboat Bend Lofts with Encore!, a vibrant group exhibition on view from February 6 through March 7, 2026.
The public is invited to a free, all-ages reception on February 20, 2026, from 6–10 PM.
Encore! builds on the momentum of last year’s successful exhibition, which featured 26 artists from across South Florida and drew record community engagement. Among the returning artists:
● Melisa Caprio: Resident Artist at Sailboat Bend Artist Lofts (2012-Current), Published Author of Postcards to the Universe (2019), TV/Radio Broadcasting Host. Photographs on permanent collection at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art (1998).
● Tony Chirinos: Recipient of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship (2023), The Green Space Miami Grant (2024), Callanan Excellence in Teaching Award (2019), South Florida Cultural Consortium (2010), and the William Talbott Hillman Foundation grant (2021).
● Ania Moussawel: 2025 Cintas Foundation Fellow and 2025 South Florida Cultural Consortium Award recipient.
● Mirta Gómez del Valle: Guggenheim Fellow, two-time Cintas Fellow, National Endowment for the Arts Fellow (1977, 1991), NYSCA Creative Artist Public Service Fellow (1979), and Florida Arts Council Fellow (1988).
● Ignacio Font: National Endowment for the Arts Individual Artist Fellowship (1989–1990) and 2025 MIA Grant recipient from Miami-Dade County Dept. of Cultural Affairs.
● Lissette Schaeffler: Oolite Arts Creator Award winner (2025), Cintas Foundation Fellowship finalist (2025, 2013), Critical Mass finalist (2015, 2022), Miami Individual Artist (MIA) Grant recipient (2023–2025), Oolite Arts and Deering Estate Artist in Residence.
Developed by Mirta Gómez del Valle and co-curated by, Melisa Caprio, and collaboARTive founders Jean and Ignacio Font, Encore brings together 20+ diverse artists in a
collaborative showcase that bridges counties, genres, and generations—spotlighting the depth and range of South Florida’s creative community.
This exhibition is not a repetition but a renewal—a celebration of what happens when artists reunite with momentum, trust, and creative risk. Encore! leans into collaboARTive’s mission to move artists from solitude to community, encouraging collaboration beyond traditional gallery walls and inviting the public to experience contemporary art in new, dynamic ways.
Attendees can expect a wide range of work—painting, sculpture, photography, digital art, performance, and installations—along with interactive workshops and panel discussions (full schedule to be announced).
Confirmed Artists
Nelson Alvarez, Fran Bitett Beck, Jean Blackwell Font, Melisa Caprio, Tony Chirinos, Niko Devera, Juan Carlos Espinosa, Hector Figallo, Osiel Gonzalez, Ignacio Font, José Luis Garcia, Mirta Gómez del Valle, Flor Mayoral, Ania Moussawel, Katya Neptune, Maria Patiño, Yossi Peled, Terre Rybovich, Lissette Schaeffler, Diego Waisman.
Exhibition Details
Encore Dates: February 6–March 7, 2026 Reception: February 20, 2026 | 6–10 PM, Artist Talk: February 15, 2026 | 1-3 P M
Location: 1310 Gallery, Sailboat Bend Lofts, Fort Lauderdale, FL Admission: Reception is free and open to the public; gallery visits by appointment.
About 1310 Gallery at Sailboat Bend Lofts
1310 Gallery is an artist-run space located within Sailboat Bend Lofts, a unique residential building in downtown Fort Lauderdale providing affordable homes for working artists. Now under the stewardship of Lennar Homes, the building continues its legacy as a creative hub, featuring a gallery and collaborative events led by local artists. The community includes painters, photographers, writers, sculptors, dancers, musicians, actors, and designers who regularly present exhibitions, workshops, and public programs.
