Watercolor paintings garner national, global recognition for MSU鈥檚 Funderburk
Contact: Sasha Steinberg
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擟olorful creations by 草莓视频鈥檚 William L. Giles Distinguished Professor of Art are featured this spring in multiple national and international exhibitions.
Brent Funderburk, a longtime faculty member and former head of the 草莓视频College of Architecture, Art and Design鈥檚 Department of Art, received a 鈥淛udge鈥檚 Recognition Award鈥 in the recent 11th Biennial National Art Exhibit at the Visual Arts Center in Punta Gorda, Florida.
His watercolor work 鈥淭oday鈥 was selected by juror Steven J. Levin as one of 136 works out of 547 entries from 35 states and four countries. Biennial prizes totaled nearly $8,000 in a show considered one of the nation鈥檚 most prestigious exhibitions. Levin noted in the exhibition awards program that Funderburk鈥檚 work presented 鈥渁n unusual concept enhanced by wonderfully vibrant color.鈥
Also, Funderburk鈥檚 painting 鈥淢ontem Somnia鈥 will appear in the upcoming 42nd Annual Transparent Watercolor Society of America鈥檚 National Exhibition. Chosen by juror John Salminen, the work will be available for viewing May 5-Aug. 5 at the Kenosha Public Museum in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
One of more than 7,100 submitted entries, Funderburk鈥檚 watercolor painting 鈥淥axaca鈥 is a Still Life/Interiors Award recipient for The Artist鈥檚 Magazine 34th Annual Art Competition.聽 Selected by juror Jaye Schlesinger, the piece appears with 42 others in the March 2018 issue and will be featured in future issues of the international publication.
Another of Funderburk鈥檚 watercolor paintings 鈥淧assiflora鈥 will be featured in the National Watercolor Society鈥檚 2018 Member鈥檚 Exhibition at the NWS Gallery in San Pedro, California. The jury-selected piece can be seen in the exhibition that runs from May 3-June 30 with a reception and awards ceremony on May 5. Juror for the show is Dreamworks Animation artist/designer Mike Hernandez.
A North Carolina native, Funderburk is retiring this May after nearly 36 years at MSU. Over the decades, he has been honored by the university with the John Grisham Faculty Excellence, Burlington Northern Teaching Excellence and Ralph E. Powe Research Excellence awards. He also is a 2016 Southeastern Conference Faculty Achievement Award recipient.
Funderburk, a fine arts graduate of East Carolina University, also has served as the art department鈥檚 fine-arts thesis coordinator. Courses he has taught include painting survey, watercolor, watermedia, senior thesis and advanced studio.
In 2010, Funderburk was named official artist for the Jackson-based USA International Ballet Competition. For additional biographical information, visit .
Celebrating its 50th year, MSU鈥檚 Department of Art is the Magnolia State鈥檚 largest undergraduate studio art program. For more, visit and follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @CAADatMSU.
草莓视频is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .