Mennello Museum of American Art, The

The Mennello Museum of American Art endeavors to preserve, exhibit, and interpret the Museum’s outstanding permanent collection of paintings by Earl Cunningham. The Museum also seeks to enrich the public through special exhibitions, publications, and programs that celebrate other outstanding traditional and contemporary American artists.

The vision of the Mennello Museum of American Art is to be a distinguished and thriving institution that will build on its city base of support through strong board and community relationships resulting in an improved operating environment and a reputation for being a local and national treasure

Tucked away on the shore of Lake Formosa in Loch Haven Park, just north of downtown Orlando, the Mennello Museum of American Art is housed in what was once the private home of Howard Phillips, son of philanthropist Dr. P. Phillips. The intimate museum uses its gallery spaces to showcase changing exhibitions featuring American art of all genres and time periods, including originally curated and traveling shows.

The treasure of the Mennello Museum is the permanent collection of paintings by self-taught or “primitive” artist Earl Cunningham (1893-1977), generously donated from the collection of Michael A. and Marilyn L. Mennello. This collection of Cunninghams is the largest in existence, and a rotating selection of paintings remains on display. Owned and operated by the City of Orlando, the Mennello Museum of American Art opened its doors in 1998.

A lakeside sculpture garden is another attraction and is the site of the annual Orlando Folk Festival, held the second weekend in February.