The Academy Center of the Arts is proud to unveil the award recipients of the 2025 Annual National Juried Art Exhibition. This national exhibition celebrates exceptional contemporary artwork from across the country, representing a wide variety of mediums, styles, and voices.
Selected from a highly competitive pool of submissions, this year’s award-winning works were chosen by Juror Jeffrey Allison, Director of Statewide Programs and Exhibitions and Paul Mellon Collection Educator at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. With a deep knowledge of visual art and a commitment to recognizing artistic excellence, Allison’s selections reflect the remarkable craftsmanship and innovation found throughout the exhibition.
We invite you to explore the featured works below and join us in celebrating the artists whose vision and creativity continue to move and inspire.
Best in Show, Aldo Muzzarelli’s “From Extemporaneous Menina Series: La Otra Señorita”, was selected for its rich symbolism and contemporary take on historical portraiture. The juror admired the way Muzzarelli combined oil, nails, and gold leaf to reflect on beauty, freedom, and social constructs—delivering a powerful message with elegance and conviction.
Elizabeth Weber’s “Nesting”, our First Place recipient, was chosen for its stunning transformation of natural materials—pine needles, wool, and wood—into an intricately constructed visual narrative. The juror was especially impressed by its geometric composition and how it celebrated nature through craftsmanship.
Second Place, “Belloise” by John Shuptrine, caught the juror’s eye through its clever use of antique camera parts and wood to build a sculpture that balanced nostalgia, humor, and technical precision.
David Eakin’s “Scottish Clouds”, awarded Third Place, was recognized for its poetic use of gouache. The painting’s vibrant sky and soft reflections captured a fleeting, peaceful moment with sensitivity and skill.
The Juror’s Choice Awards honored works that exemplified originality and a deep engagement with material and theme:
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Laren Baum’s “Blueprint View Area Tabulation” was noted for its inventive mix of collage, drawing, and blueprint, creating a layered, architectural narrative.
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Lisa Downey’s “From My Window” offered a quiet, painterly view into daily life, using oil paint to communicate mood and personal reflection.
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Robert Hunter’s digital print “The House of Remus” stood out for its symbolic resonance and storytelling through digital means, proving the medium’s artistic depth.
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- Laren Baum’s “Blueprint View Area Tabulation”
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- Liza Downey’s “From My Window”
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- Robert Hunter’s “The House of Remus”
As we present these works to the public, we celebrate the artists’ ability to communicate across materials and moments. Each piece in this exhibition represents a unique voice and perspective—and we are thrilled to share them with our community.
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