Cash Prizes Awarded to Three Local Artists

Irina Grimaldi (Premier Photo)

(Press Release) 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.

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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
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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 sponsored by 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.