LAKELAND, Fla., Aug. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art (The AGB) at Florida Southern College is pleased to announce the launch of its inaugural Artist-in-Residence Program, welcoming acclaimed artist Reynier Llanes for a two-and-a-half-month residency from September through November 2026.
Sponsored by CORE Wealth Advisors and The AGB Director’s Circle, the residency will provide Llanes with the opportunity to develop Transcendentals, a new series of large-scale portraits created during his time at the Museum. The project is expected to culminate in an exhibition of the completed works at The AGB in 2027, accompanied by a documentary film chronicling the residency and creative process and a catalogue of the exhibition.
“The launch of our Artist-in-Residence Program represents an exciting new chapter for The AGB and expands the ways we can bring artists, students and our community together through the creative process,” said Dr. Daryl Ward, Executive Director of The Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art. “Reynier’s engagement with artists and art patrons through both his practice and his presence will be a meaningful addition to our local art scene.”
Llanes, whose work is represented by four pieces in The AGB’s permanent collection, will create on site throughout the residency, offering Museum visitors opportunities to experience the artistic process firsthand. In addition to developing Transcendentals, Llanes will engage with Florida Southern College students and faculty, host open painting sessions at the Museum, and lead workshops and presentations for Museum members and the broader community.
The residency also strengthens The AGB’s role as a teaching museum within Florida Southern College, creating opportunities for students to interact directly with a working artist and gain insight into the development of a major body of work from its earliest stages through exhibition.
“As a trustee and sponsor, I’ve long believed that one gift we can give an artist is uninterrupted time and space to create. This inaugural residency reflects that belief in action, and it’s exactly the kind of investment Florida Southern College and the Board of Governors are proud to champion. Bringing Reynier’s work and presence to campus gives our students a rare, direct connection to the creative process, and it enriches the broader college and community in ways that will be felt well beyond this residency.” said Chuck Foss, President of The AGB Board of Governors, Florida Southern College Trustee, and Partner and CEO of CORE Wealth Advisors.
Born in Cuba, Llanes is known for figurative works that explore themes of identity, memory, culture and the human experience. His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and is held in museums, institutional, and private collections.
“During this residency, I plan to develop my Transcendentals series, a body of large-scale portraits that explores the human face as a powerful vehicle for identity, perception, and connection. I’m interested in the first impressions that come with encountering another person, but also in the prejudices, assumptions, and even systems of surveillance that can accompany the act of looking at a face,” Llanes said. “What excites me most is the opportunity to create this work inside the museum and allow people to experience part of that process. I want the residency to become a bridge between the studio practice, the museum, and the community, where the making of art becomes as meaningful as the finished work.”
Additional information about public programs, open painting sessions, workshops, and presentations associated with the Artist-in-Residence Program will be announced by The AGB throughout the residency.
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SOURCE Florida Southern College
