The public can vote for their favorite artist in the People’s Choice Award now through June 13
June 4, 2025 (Lake Worth Beach, Fla.) — Three talented Palm Beach County-based artists received cash prizes for their dynamic works in the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County’s “Biennial 2025” exhibition—on display for just a few more weeks.
Painter Yvonne Fok-Gundersen took home Best of Show; mixed media artist Mark Forman received Second Place; and painter and illustrator Irina Grimaldi earned Third Place. The winners were announced during the exhibition’s opening reception.
Visitors can still cast their votes for the People’s Choice Award piece once a day, every day through Friday, June 13 at 3 p.m. at the Council’s headquarters.The Council will conduct a final tally of the votes and announce the winner live on Instagram (on @palmbeachculture) on Monday, June 16 at 3 p.m.
About the Recipients and Winning Artworks
Yvonne Fok-Gundersen: Hailing from Palm Beach Gardens, Fok-Gundersen creates gilded paintings in the style of 14th century illuminated manuscripts. Two paintings in her Zodiac series, “Libra” and “Taurus”, pay homage to works by Francisco Goya, Eugène Delacroix, and Aubrey Beardsley.
Mark Forman: A Delray Beach-based mixed media artist, Forman focuses on both 2D and 3D works. “STIMULATING THOUGHTS, INTERPRETATIONS AND RESPONSES” is an in-progress series that reflects the artist’s viewpoint and feelings about today’s ever-changing political and social landscapes.
Irina Grimaldi: Based in Boynton Beach, Grimaldi is a botanical artist specializing in watercolor. She aims to translate the beauty of plants to paper. Her “Cogshall Mango” and “Simmonds Avocado and Brogdan Avocado” pieces are vibrant renderings that showcase the lush beauty and realism of South Florida’s tropical bounty.
This year, the Cultural Council received over 550 submissions for the exhibition from 152 professional artists across the county. Submissions were juried by Tim Hawkinson, a Los Angeles-based gallerist and curator.
“Biennial 2025” is sponsoredby the Merrill G. & Emita Hastings Foundation, Ellen Liman, Florida Weekly, Palm Beach Media Group, WLRN, ArtiGras Fine Arts Festival, and PureHoney Magazine.
The exhibition runs through Friday, June 20. It is free and open to the public during the summer Tuesdays through Fridays; noon to 5 p.m. (601 Lake Ave., Lake Worth Beach, 33460). To learn more, visit palmbeachculture.com/biennial.
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About the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County
The Cultural Council for Palm Beach County is the official support agency for arts and culture in The Palm Beaches, Florida’s Cultural Capital®. Headquartered in the historic Robert M. Montgomery, Jr. building in Downtown Lake Worth Beach, the Council presents exciting year-round exhibitions and performances featuring artists who live or work in Palm Beach County. The Council features spectacular work by Palm Beach County-based professional artisans in its Roe Green Uniquely Palm Beach Store and offers complimentary resources for visitors in its Jean S. and Frederic A. Sharf Visitor Information Center. The Council is open to the public during the summer Tuesdays through Fridays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information and a comprehensive calendar of cultural events in The Palm Beaches, visit palmbeachculture.com.