What kind of projects are exhibited in the Visual Art & Design Showcase?

Projects fall into the following categories: video; photography; art; interior design and architectural studies; textile and apparel management; strategic communications and graphic design; theatre; and an open category. The open category includes floral and landscape design and other projects that don’t fit into the other categories. The most important part is that all projects must have a visual element central to the work.

What does ‘Faculty Mentored’ mean?

A faculty-mentored project means the student has sought advice or received consultation on the project from an appropriate Mizzou faculty member.

Please Note: This does not mean the project was created for a class assignment, though it could be. If you have a creative project that you made outside of class, but have gone to an instructor to get feedback on it, THAT is a mentored project! 

Students submit projects on their own, they are NOT faculty nominated.

Make sure that your faculty mentor knows that you are listing them as your mentor for this project on your application.

Sponsors

• Division of Undergraduate Studies
• University of Missouri Office of Undergraduate Research
• Columbia Art League
• Sager Reeves Gallery
• University of Missouri Museum of Art and Archaeology
• University of Missouri Libraries

Showcase Committee

• Chair: Linda Blockus, Undergraduate Research
• Lesleighan Cravens, Plant Sciences
• Katina Bitsicas, Digital Storytelling/Film Studies
• Lee Ann Garrison, Art
• Andrea Heiss, Journalism
• Deborah Huelsbergen, Art
• Sarah Humfeld, Undergraduate Research
• Heather Isherwood, Journalism
• Joe Johnson, Photography
• Nicole Johnston, Textile and Apparel Management
• Desireé Moore, Digital Storytelling/Film Studies
• Christian Rozier, Digital Storytelling/Film Studies
• Debora Verniz, Architectural Studies
• Marc Vital, Theatre
• Ric Wilson, Graphic Design
  

Previous VADS Programs

2016 VADS Program
2017 VADS Program
2018 VADS Program
2019 VADS Program
2020 VADS Program
2021 VADS Program
2022 VADS Program
2023 VADS Program
2024 VADS Program

There are two main categories for awards: Artistic Expression and Applied Design. Within each of these categories four (4) winners will be selected by the jurors. Other awards are “selection” awards, those chosen by those sponsors/groups – these do not have any monetary value.

Artistic Expression

• Grand Prize: $2,000
• Runner-Up: $1,000
• Awards of Merit (2): $500

Applied Design

• Grand Prize: $2,000
• Runner-Up: $1,000
• Awards of Merit (2): $500

People’s Choice Award – $100

Other Awards

• Ragtag Cinema Video Award
• Columbia Art League Award
• Jonathan Asher Award
• MU Libraries Award

Faculty Mentor Awards

Faculty Mentors whose students receive the Grand Prize award in a category will receive an award of $300.

To see a list of the previous years’ award winners, scroll to the bottom of this page.

If you have any questions, please contact us at ugr@missouri.edu.

2025 Schedule

• February 19: Applications Due
• March 7: Students Notified of Acceptance
• TBD: Students Consult with VADS Curator regarding gallery display
• April 2-3: Online Jurying via Zoom
• April 5: Projects installed in Columbia Art League gallery
• April 7: Screening of VADS films and videos
• April 7: Reception for the 2025 VADS Exhibition (open to all)
• April 18-19: Projects de-installed

MU undergraduate students are invited to submit their expressive art and applied design projects to the Visual Art and Design Showcase. Students selected to participate will visit with a panel of guest jury members and are eligible to compete for $8,000 in professional development funds and other awards.

Projects will be selected in the following categories:

• Video: Time-based media; includes journalism/documentary, digital storytelling video and film studies; ***no more than 10 minutes for each submission***
• Photography: Includes photojournalism, art photography and digital storytelling
• Art: Includes painting, drawing, sculpture, mixed media, etc. (not photography)
• Architectural Studies
• Apparel Design: Fashion and clothing design
• Theatre: Includes set, costume and lighting design
• Strategic Communication and Graphic Design
• Open Category: Includes floral design, landscape/turf design, other journalism (design layout), 3D printing, projection art or any other type of artistic expression or design

All projects must have a visual element central to the work. The Visual Art and Design Committee will have final approval of projects and display requests.

Projects have included the “typical” art projects, as well as: 3D-printing projects, strategic communication projects, theatre/stage design, costuming, graphic design, jewelry, apparel and sculptural works.

Students may submit up to two projects to VADS, but they must be in different categories. For instance, you may submit a project to the ‘Art’ category, and the second project can be submitted to in any of the other categories.

Where do I start?

We have resources to help you get started! Information sessions and workshops will help answer all the questions you have about VADS! We have recordings from previous workshops that are available to you to watch at your own pace.

“How to Photograph Your Art”
“How to Write an Artist Statement”
“Creating an Artist Statement Video”

The Office of Undergraduate Research is available to meet with students individually to discuss your project and any questions that you may have. You may contact us at ugr@missouri.edu or through MU Connect to set up an appointment.

Before you apply, review these two handouts:

VADS Student Flyer

VADS Tips and Tricks for Submitting Your Project

Please share this opportunity with your students, whether in class or as an extracurricular activity.

If you are interested in having someone come talk to your class about VADS, please contact us at ugr@missouri.edu.

As a mentor, how may I assist the student? What should I expect to do?

During the creation process:

• Provide feedback on the project/art prior to completion.
• Encourage the student to view past Showcases so that they see the end products of other projects.

During the submission process:

• Provide feedback on and/or assist with drafting the Artist Statement. This will be used to determine if the project will be selected into the Showcase, shared with guest jury members, and made available to the public.
• Provide feedback on the project title.
• Assist in selecting which images are submitted for consideration into the Showcase.

If your mentee’s project is selected for inclusion in the Showcase:

• Develop talking points with the student for the guest jury evaluation (which will be via Zoom).
• Review the experience with the student after the Showcase.
• Complete a short survey to help improve the Visual Art & Design Showcase for future years.

Faculty Information Flyer

Apply now for the 2025 Visual Art and Design Showcase.

Exhibition Awards

• MU Libraries – Jae Cowen, “Our Amazing Planet” (Graphic Design)
• Museum of Art & Archaeology – Tyler Thomas, “MANifest Destiny” (Photography)
• Columbia Art League – Hannah Gundlach, “Ancestry Revived” (Art)
• Sager Reeves Gallery – Avery Dixon, “The Hardest Part” (Art)

Applied Design Awards

• Grand Prize ($2,000) – Jae Cowan, “Our Amazing Planet” (Graphic Design)
• Runner-Up ($1,000) – Christian Zarrick, “Gas City Night Crime” (Video)
• Award of Merit ($500) – Laila Al-kharabsheh, “Hawthorn Architectural University” (Architecture)
• Award of Merit ($500) – Will Funderburg, “Ginger Rogers x 1970 Wearable Decor” (Apparel)

Artistic Expression Awards

• Grand Prize ($2,000) – Reese Betts, “All that Remains (and That Which Does Not)” (Open)
• Runner Up ($1,000) – Avery Dixon, “The Hardest Part” (Art)
• Award of Merit ($500) -Esra Jackson, “The Opacity of Grief” (Art)
• Award of Merit ($500) – Sofia Ortega, “Sigo Rezando” (Art)

People’s Choice Award

• Emily Wilson, “We are Not Just a Day” (Video)

Faculty Mentor Awards

• Ric Wilson, mentor of Jae Cowan, “Our Amazing Planet”
• Katina Bitsicas, mentor of Reese Betts, “All that Remains (and That Which Does Not)”

MU Libraries – Exhibition Award

Mara Fenwick – “Magic Bubble”, textile and apparel management
Alyssa Pierson – “Tinker and Bell”, textile and apparel management

Art & Archaeology Museum – Exhibition Award

Jack Rintoul – “Love & Suspense”, graphic design and strategic communication

Columbia Art League – Selection Award

Hannah Gundlach – “Sitting Ducks”, art

Jonathan Asher Photography – Selection Award

Lilyann Hames – “Wear Me Out”, photography

Applied Design

First Prize – $2,000

Brooke McKee – “Tie the Bow”, textile and apparel management

Second Prize – $1,000

Sydney Flowers – “Columbia Performing Art Academy”, architectural studies & interior design

Third Prize – $500

Abby Blenk – “Entropy of a Memory”, video
Sydney McClintock – “Killing V’, textile and apparel management

Artistic Expression

First Prize – $2,000

Danielle Hardy – “Golden Air”, video

Second Prize – $1,000

Kylee Isom – “MAKE ME FEEL GOOD”, photography

Third Prize – $500

Jordyn Gobble – “A Neighborhood of Idolized Longing”, art
Krislyn Hollis – “Carnevale an Introspection”, art

Honorable Mentions

Kennedy James – “Paper Hearts”, graphic design & strategic communication
Darreon Carbin – “When Day Breaks and Night Falls”, art
Reese Betts – “Digital Naiveté”, video
Summer Parker – “Book of Fears”, art
Caycee Roth – “Bad-Ass Greeting Cards”, graphic design & strategic communication
Alonzo Williams – “Refocus”, video

People’s Choice

Mara Fenwick – “Magic Bubble”, textile and apparel management

Faculty Mentor Awards

Desireé Moore – Mentee, Danielle Hardy for “Golden Air”
Kerri McBee-Black – Mentee, Brooke McKee for “Tie the Bow”

Ragtag Cinema – Film Screening

Svetlana Wunnenberg for ‘M(a)notinist‘, a video

MU Libraries – Exhibition Award

Kailyn Hill for ‘see us‘, art

Art & Archaeology Museum – Exhibition Award

Marc Chauvin for ‘Historical Dissonance‘, photography

Columbia Art League – Selection Award

Danielle Hardy for ‘Facets of the Black Experience‘, photography

Jonathan Asher Photography – Selection Award

Kylee Isom for ‘WHERE DRAPES MEET CARPET‘, photography

Applied Design

First Prize – $2,000

Katie O’Russa for ‘Don’t Erase Me‘, strategic communication & graphic design

Second Prize – $1,000

Svetlana Wunnenberg for ‘M(a)notinist‘, a video

Third Prize – $500

Olivia Childs for ‘Unseen Feelings‘, strategic communication & graphic design
Emily Werner for ‘Origami Hyperboloids‘, open

Artistic Expression

First Prize – $2,000

Kailyn Hill for ‘see us‘, art

Second Prize – $1,000

Moy Zhong for ‘ABC? (American, But Chinese)‘, video

Third Prize – $500

Kylee Isom for ‘WHERE DRAPES MEET CARPET’, photography
Daniel Roman for ‘Two Step‘, video

Sager Braudis Gallery – Scholarship & Exhibition Award

Jessica Tifase for ‘The Harvest‘ – mentor Joe Johnson

Ragtag Cinema – Film Screening

Sofia Voss for ‘I Think of You Often‘ – mentor Kamau Bilal

MU Libraries – Exhibition Award

Amy Frisella for ‘Ellis Library Addition‘ – mentor Robert Walsh

Art & Archaeology Museum – Exhibition Award

Kyle Yerby for ‘personal Protective‘ – mentor Catherine Armbrust

Columbia Art League – Selection Award

Lauren Fyle for ‘Still Lives of My Room‘ – mentor Mark Langeneckert

Applied Design

First Prize – $2,000

Amberlee Gandy & Grace Anderson for ‘Funeral for One‘ – mentor Lesleighan Cravens

Second Prize – $1,000

Maddy Gomez for ‘Mariposa’ – mentor Nick Potter

Third Prize – $500

Rose Shirkey for ‘Birthday Toast[ed]’ – mentor Marc Vital
Grant Burress for ‘Through the Fire’ – Christian Rozier

Artistic Expression

First Prize – $2,000

Jessica Tifase for ‘The Harvest’ – mentor Joe Johnson

Second Prize – $1,000

Eliza Finck for ‘I Don’t Know How, But They Found Me’ – mentor Anna Wehrwein

Third Prize – $500

Kylee Isom for ‘HOME/BODY’ – mentor Joe Johnson
Sofia Voss for ‘I Think of You Often’ – mentor Kamau Bilal

Sager Braudis Gallery – Scholarship & Exhibition Award

Robin Haithcoat and Madessyn Zahn for ‘Reflections’, a collaborative installation piece

Ragtag Cinema – Film Screening

Roxanne Wan for ‘Cigarette in Love’, a film

MU Libraries – Exhibition Award

Amanda Lee and Molly Wainscott for ‘Fugue’, a dress design

Art & Archaeology Museum – Exhibition Award

Tyree Taylor for ‘False Profits’, a series of paintings

People’s Choice Award

Tyree Taylor for ‘False Profits’

Applied Design

First Prize – $2,000

Andy Kreiter for ‘OTC Aquatics’, an architectural design project

Second Prize – $1,000

Jasmyne Tyler for ‘A to Z Breakfast Cards’, a graphic design project

Third Prize – $500

Zachary Ignotz for ‘I G N O T Z Missouri Heritage Garden’, a landscape design
Melanie West for ‘Jefferson Middle School’, an adaptive reuse design

Artistic Expression

First Prize – $2,000

Robin Haithcoat and Madessyn Zahn for ‘Reflections’, a collaborative installation piece

Second Prize – $1,000

Jessica Tifase for ‘Caged Birds’, a photograph series

Third Prize – $500

Ryan Groom for ‘Handlebars’, a video
Joe Dino for ‘Reactions of Reactions’, a mixed media painting

Sager Braudis Gallery – Scholarship & Exhibition Award

Jade Thompson for ‘Who the hell can be me?’, painting

Ragtag Cinema – Film Screening

Marcelese Cooper for ‘Cauchemar a’Pied’, a video

MU Libraries – Exhibition Award

Summer Richie for ‘Boys will be Boys’, mixed media

Art & Archaeology Museum – Exhibition Award

Rachel Choma for ‘God does not play dice’, mixed media

Resident Arts – Selection Award

Hannah Williams for ‘There are no atheists in foxholes’, photography

People’s Choice Award

Sabrina Morris for ‘Blooming Trash’, floral design project

Applied Design

First Prize – $2,000

Jingyi Wu for ‘The Blue Peony Collection’, a collection of apparel design

Second Prize – $1,000

Coulton Becker for ‘Fairview Community Church’, architectural design

Third Prize – $500

Davion Thomas for ‘Contemporary Wine Holder’, architectural design
Zhuo Cao for ‘Puppy Calendar’, graphic design

Artistic Expression

First Prize – $2,000

Marcelese Cooper for ‘Cauchemar a’Pied’, a video

Second Prize – $1,000

Madessyn Zahn for ‘The Sweetheart’, photography

Third Prize – $500

Kayla Myers for ‘Curis Part III’, a video
Gillian Smith for ‘A.I. Taught You All I Could’, printmaking

Sager Braudis Gallery – Scholarship & Exhibition Award

Terrance Purdy, Jr. for ‘Rëx’, Photography

Ragtag Cinema – Film Screening

Taylor Bailey, Unreachable, Video

Missouri Theatre – Exhibition Award

JoMerra Watson, Pattern of Resistance, Paintings
Samuel Scholting, Black Wing, Theatre Prop
Brandi Ynocencio, Femme Fatale in Print, Mixed Media
Asa Lory, Bread, Photography

Art & Archaeology Museum – Exhibition Award

Noor Khreis, Noor’s Mosaics, Digital Prints

Resident Arts – Selection Award

Robin Haithcoat, Simulacrum, Photography

People’s Choice Award

Lindsay Perkins, #RealLove, Photography

Applied Design

First Prize 

Maggie Noble, The Apprehension Engine, Animation

Second Prize

Coulton Becker, Child Development Laboratory, Architectural Design

Third Prize

Olivia Eastman, Cracking A World, Apparel Design
Noor Khreis, Noor’s Mosaics, Digital Prints

Artistic Expression

First Prize

Nathan Wright, Maybe I Wasn’t There, Video

Second Prize

Lindsay Perkins, #RealLove, Photography

Third Prize

Marcelese Cooper, Twenty-Something, Photography
Meiying Wu, Dance In The Water, Video

Sager Braudis Gallery – Scholarship & Exhibition Award

Edward Henuber, Piles, Digital Prints

Ragtag Cinema – Film Screening

Nathan Wright, Death Deferred, Video

Missouri Theatre – Exhibition Award

James Rusk, Columbia Transit Station, Architectural Design
Devon DeVaughn, Decadence, Photography
Steven Gieseke, Retrospecticus, Documentary
Caitlin Sadowski, Elegance in Water, Apparel Designy

Art & Archaeology Museum – Exhibition Award

Bill Chlanda, A Process of Healing, Photography

Resident Arts – Selection Award

Jessie Donovan, Vulnerable and Variable, Printmaking

People’s Choice Award

Kailey Brooks, Persistence, Floral Design

Applied Design

First Prize 

Catlin Miller, Honey Interlude, Apparel Design

Award Winners

Ari Wagner, Year of the White Bull, Graphic Design
Kailey Brooks, Persistence, Floral Design
India Simpson & Maia Loesche, Geo Gingham, Apparel Design
Aaron McMurry, Student Maker Space, Architectural Design

Artistic Expression

First Prize

Carina Jimenez, Imposition, Paintings

Award Winners

Nicholas Cook, Madeleine Cihak & Abigail Reznicek, Reflection, Documentary
Morgan Liberman, La Habra Boxing Club, Photography
Timothy Glanvill, Finding My Identity, Fibers
Edward Henuber, Piles, Digital Prints

Sager Braudis Gallery – Scholarship & Exhibition Award

Simon Tatum for ‘Revisiting Early Cayman Photographs’, drawing/painting

People’s Choice Award

Brianna Heese for ‘Functional Ceramic Vessels’, ceramics
Kara Rinella for ‘First World Problems, as Portrayed by Dinosaurs’, graphic design

Applied Design

First Prize 

Timothy Tai for ‘Ferguson’s Son’, photojournalism

Award Winners

Caitlin Allen for ‘Costumes for Lay Capulet & Lady Montague from Romeo & Juliet‘, costumer design
Aaron McMurry for ‘Lake House’, architectural design
Kathleen Kowalsky for ‘3-Dimensional Burlap’, apparel design
Brianna Heese for ‘Functional Ceramic Vessels’, ceramics
Mohammed Al Subaie for ‘MAKE: Steam – A Makerspace for Mizzou’, architectural design

Artistic Expression

First Prize

Arik Sexton for ‘Cloud ’93’, graphic design

Award Winners

Hailey Crabtree for ‘Object Awareness’, photography
Andrew Nikonowicz for ‘The World and Others Like It’, photography
Fuchun Song for ‘Unspeakable Pain’, photography
Simon Tatum for ‘Revisiting Early Cayman Photographs’, drawing/painting
Chase Barnes for ‘Impostor’, photography
Madalynn Olmsted for ‘Nurture’, ‘Lost’, ‘Harmful Home’, and ‘Healing’, a collection of mixed media