The Ellies 2026 - Oolite Arts

About the Ellies

The 2026 Oolite Arts Awards celebrate the foundation for what's next, honoring visionary arts leaders Mario Cader-Frech and Robert S. Wennett for their enduring legacy and transformative contributions to the advancement of arts and culture, including their work cultivating research into and the dissemination of Central American art and its diaspora through The Museo Reina Sofía's Cader Institute of Central American Art (ICAC) and Y.ES Contemporary. They are also recognized for their pivotal role as founding members of the Art Basel Global Patrons Committee and for their continued patronage of Miami's art institutions and artists.

Award Categories

• Lifetime Achievement Award, inspired by Michael Richards, honoring an artist whose career has made a profound and enduring impact on South Florida's cultural landscape
• Better World Award, recognizing artists whose work sparks dialogue around critical issues including social justice, climate change, gender equality, and racial equity
• Art Teacher Travel Awards, providing five grants of $5,000 each to support Miami-Dade public school educators in enriching their classroom curriculum through travel
• Creator Awards, empowering artists living and working in South Florida

Event Details

• Wednesday, April 22, 2026
• 5:30 p.m. Cocktails
• 6:30 p.m. Award Ceremony
• 7:30 – 10 p.m. Party
• Location: 1111 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, 33139

Honorary Chairs

Jorge M. Pérez and Darlene Pérez. Jorge M. Pérez is Founding Executive Chairman of The Related Group and a leading contemporary art collector devoted to supporting arts and culture initiatives across South Florida. Darlene Pérez is a Miami native and advanced registered nurse practitioner with more than 25 years of experience, serving as advocate and champion for healthcare and education in South Florida. Together they established The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation at The Miami Foundation in 2015, which has committed over $70 million in support of nearly 150 non-profit organizations. The Pérez CreARTE Grants Program has invested $10 million across 45 unique organizations in Miami-Dade County since 2019.

Co-chairs

Sergio García-Granados and Tanya Brillembourg. Sergio García-Granados is a wealth manager, historian, and art collector serving as Executive Director at Morgan Stanley in Miami. An avid collector of contemporary Latin American art and board member of numerous cultural organizations. Tanya Brillembourg is an art consultant and gallerist based in Miami with a lifelong commitment to advancing Latin American art.