Curatorial Projects & Community Collaboration


Emmanuel Gonzales has shown a deep passion for curating vibrant, community-driven art events and public projects in Lake Worth Beach, Florida. Working closely with LULA Lake Worth Arts, he has played a key role in bringing dynamic exhibitions and creative initiatives to life—ranging from gallery shows and outdoor installations to interactive student projects and public art displays. With a strong commitment to inclusivity and local engagement, Emmanuel’s curatorial work celebrates artists of all ages and backgrounds, transforming everyday spaces into platforms for cultural expression and connection.

  • TRAFFIC CONTROL BOX WRAPS, LAKE WORTH BEACH, FLORIDA

    Lake Worth Arts has wrapped several traffic control boxes along Dixie Highway, the Gateways, and throughout Downtown. For the upcoming fiscal year, funds have been allocated to wrap additional boxes within the CRA district.

    The latest set of boxes has been curated by Emmanuel Gonzales and features designs by the winners of Art Wars 2024: Hilary Mangel, Sami Makela, Gregory Dirr, Alexandra Alisco, and Kevin Goff. Their work brings vibrant energy and artistic expression to the streets of Lake Worth Beach, continuing the mission to integrate art into public spaces and celebrate our local creative talent.

  • THE ART OF KIMONO & SENSU AND SENSIBILITY

    In March 2024, Emmanuel Gonzales curated The Art of Kimono, a month-long exhibition at HATCH 1121 in Lake Worth Beach, Florida. Imagined by Barbara Chieves, the exhibition celebrated the elegance, symbolism, and cultural legacy of the Japanese kimono. It brought together a diverse range of artists whose works blended traditional motifs with contemporary interpretations.

    As part of the exhibition, Emmanuel developed Sensu and Sensibility—a special call to artists to design original Japanese folding fans (sensu) as unique works of art. The resulting collection featured vibrant, handcrafted fans exploring themes of identity, heritage, and transformation. The exhibition served as a cultural bridge, engaging the community in honoring tradition through modern artistic expression.

  • ART WARS AT HATCH 1121 – LAKE WORTH BEACH'S ULTIMATE LIVE ART SHOWDOWN

    Curated by Emmanuel Gonzales, Art Wars is an electrifying annual event held exclusively at HATCH 1121 in Lake Worth Beach. This high-energy live art competition brings together some of the area's most dynamic artists for a one-night-only creative battle, where paint flies and ideas ignite in real time.

    The audience holds the power—attendees vote to decide the winners, who not only earn bragging rights but also the opportunity to create public art for the city. With music, community spirit, and spontaneous creativity, Art Wars is a celebration of bold expression and civic engagement in the heart of Lake Worth Beach’s thriving arts scene.

  • OPEN STUDIOS AT HATCH 1121 – A BEHIND-THE-SCENES ART EXPERIENCE

    Curated by Emmanuel Gonzales and brought to you by the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County, Open Studios is a yearly event that celebrates artistic collaboration and community at HATCH 1121 in Lake Worth Beach.

    Recognizing the need for accessible creative space, HATCH 1121 opened its doors to artists who don’t have public studios—bringing together eight talented local artists under one roof. This unique event offers the public a rare opportunity to step inside their working studios, meet the artists, explore in-progress and completed works, and experience the vibrant energy of art in action.

    Open Studios is more than an exhibition—it’s an invitation to connect with the creative process and the people behind it. Join us each year as we celebrate the power of shared space and artistic expression in the heart of Lake Worth Beach.