By Heart and By Hand: Black Craft Artists Exhibition in Orlando 2026–2027

By Heart and By Hand: A Stunning Exhibition of Black Craft Artists at the Orange County Regional History Center in Orlando

Discover the rich tapestry of Black craft traditions in Central Florida at the Orange County Regional History Center’s special exhibition, By Heart and By Hand. Running from September 5, 2026, to March 28, 2027, this powerful showcase celebrates artistry, heritage, and community through the work of talented Black craft artists.

Rooted in traditions passed down through generations, By Heart and By Hand explores how contemporary makers draw on ancestral knowledge, family stories, and cultural practices. Visitors will experience craft as a living expression of identity and cultural memory—pieces that preserve the past while shaping vibrant creative futures. From quilting and embroidery to woodcarving, soft sculpture, and traditional instrument-making, the exhibition highlights resilience, creativity, and the enduring power of art to connect generations and enrich Central Florida’s story.

Featured Artists and Their Work

The exhibition brings together a diverse group of Central Florida creators whose practices span textiles, sculpture, instruments, and more:

• Carmen A. Nibbs-O’Garro crafts intricate doll fashions from recycled textiles, celebrating culture, history, tradition, and sustainability. Inspired by her grandmother’s sewing legacy, she founded Laylee M Doll Clothes. Her work has appeared in the Smithsonian Folklife Magazine and other publications, with exhibitions in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands.
• Eddie Osborne, a South Florida folk artist, writer, and educator (and U.S. Air Force veteran), creates handcrafted African and African-derived musical instruments. Recognized as a Master Artist by the Florida Folklife Apprenticeship Program in 1997, his pieces are in the permanent collection of the Geechee Kunda Museum and Cultural Center in Georgia.
• Linda Mills-Alexander, a Florida-based painter and quilt artist, creates vibrant textile and painted works reflecting gratitude, renewal, and nature’s restorative beauty. A cancer survivor, she draws on personal journey and spirituality. Her art has been shown at the African American Museum of the Arts, Hannibal Square Heritage Center, Orlando International Airport, and CityArts Orlando.
• Lisa G. Moore, an Orlando heritage quilter and mixed-media textile artist, explores ancestry, memory, and Black history through layered quilts inspired by her Gullah Geechee heritage, family archives, and reclaimed textiles. A former educator and 2025–2026 Studio Artist in Residence at the Art & History Museums of Maitland, she has exhibited at the Orlando Museum of Art and Atlanta Quilt Festival.
• Na’ah Gordon, an Orlando multidisciplinary artist and educator, works in textiles, painting, sculpture, and installation. Drawing on experiences as a gay Christian woman, she transforms garments and everyday objects to explore memory, identity, spirituality, family, love, and loss. She holds degrees from the University of Central Florida and University of Iowa and teaches at Valencia College.
• Winston D. Andrews, a Trinidad and Tobago-born sculptor and wood artist based in Orlando, transforms wood into expressive sculptures that honor Afro-Caribbean heritage, history, and craftsmanship. His work has been shown with the Florida Sculptors Guild, CityArts Orlando, Hannibal Square Heritage Center, and Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs.
• Teighlor Johnson, founder of Teighlor Made Co., is an Orlando illustrator and textile artist specializing in chainstitch embroidery using antique machines. Combining vintage techniques with painting, printmaking, and repurposed textiles, Johnson creates works inspired by storytelling and everyday narratives.
• Darlene Allen, an Oviedo-based fiber artist and teddy bear maker, crafts whimsical one-of-a-kind bears, woodland creatures, and figures from mohair, vintage fabrics, found objects, and antique textiles. Her imaginative pieces blur the line between sculpture and storytelling, drawing from fairy tales, folklore, and nature.

Plan Your Visit to the Orange County Regional History Center

One of Florida’s premier cultural institutions, the Orange County Regional History Center serves as a gateway for community engagement, education, and inspiration by preserving and sharing Central Florida’s story. Located in the restored 1927 courthouse at the heart of downtown Orlando, the museum is operated by Orange County and the Historical Society of Central Florida.

Address:
65 E. Central Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32801

Phone:
Local: 407-836-8500
Toll-Free: 800-965-2030

Convenient parking is available in the Library Parking Garage at 112 E. Central Blvd., across from the Orlando Public Library.

Don’t miss this tribute to Black craft artists and the living traditions that continue to shape Central Florida. Mark your calendar for By Heart and By Hand—an unforgettable celebration of artistry, heritage, and community running September 5, 2026, through March 28, 2027.

For the latest details, tickets, and related programs, visit the Orange County Regional History Center. Experience how these makers keep cultural memory alive, one handmade piece at a time.