Jury

Notley Hawkins

Born and raised in Columbia, Notley Hawkins (b. 1964) is a lifelong Missourian whose three-decade career bridges the gap between classical painting and fine art photography. Originally trained in the Regionalist tradition by Sid Larson (a student of Thomas Hart Benton) and cartoonist Frank Stack, Hawkins later attended the prestigious Skowhegan School and held residencies at the Vermont Studio Center and Ucross Foundation. In 2005, he transitioned from painting to photography, applyong his painterly mastery of light and composition to document the rural and bucolic landscapes of his home state. His acclaimed work is held in the permanent collections of The State Historical Society of Missouri and The Ashby-Hodge Gallery of American Art, cementing his legacy as a premier visual chronicler of the Missouri landscape. 

David Spear

David Spear is a Columbia, Missouri–based artist specializing in freelance illustration, large-scale artwork, and mural painting. His work ranges from detailed illustration to immersive, site-specific installations, often created for public and educational spaces.

He also works part-time as an exhibit designer for the Missouri Department of Conservation, where he designs, fabricates, and repairs interactive exhibits statewide. His projects include touchscreen interactives, children’s educational play tables, large-scale airbrushed elements, and murals, blending art, design, and hands-on fabrication. 

Spear earned his BFA from the University of Missouri–St. Louis in 1999 and his MFA from the University of Missouri–Columbia in 2012. His practice reflects a balance between fine art, illustration, and functional design, with a strong emphasis on craftsmanship and public engagement.

Bri Thomas

Bri Thomas is a Creative Director at Hoot Design Company, a culture-driven branding agency based in Columbia, Missouri. Armed with a BFA in Graphic Design from the University of Missouri and nearly a decade of professional experience, she has led creative work for a wide range of clients - from tech companies like Dropboc to lifestyle brands like Pelican Golf Club, Massican, and BookCon.

Outside of the agency, Bri maintains an active art practice centered on colorful portraiture - paintings and illustrations that celebrate pop culture and the women who shape it. That dual life as a strategic designer and expressive fine artist gives her a perspective that is equal parts concept-driven and deeply human. 

She calls Columbia home with her husband, son, three rescue pups, and a baby on the way. Bri is thrilled to return to Mizzou as a judge for the 2026 undergraduate Visual Art & Design Showcase, bringing her professional experience and creative passion back to the community that shaped her.