Funderburk among 2024 Governor’s Arts Awards recipients announced by Mississippi Arts Commission
Brent Funderburk
The Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 Governor’s Arts Awards. The 2024 recipients and awards are Earl Poole Ball, Lifetime Achievement; Cedric Burnside, Excellence in Music; Brent Funderburk, Excellence in Visual Arts and Education; Peter Zapletal, Excellence in Performing Arts; and 100 Men Hall, Arts in Community.
Funderburk is a William L. Giles Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Mississippi State University, where he served as Art Department head and taught for 36 years. He has been recognized with the University’s highest academic, teaching, and research honors, including the Southeastern Conference Faculty Excellence Award (2016), the John Grisham Teaching Award, the Ralph E. Powe Faculty Research Award, and the Burlington Northern Faculty Excellence Award, among others.
An artist known for his exuberantly-hued watermedia paintings as well as energetic teaching and lectures, Funderburk is a Charlotte, North Carolina native who has worked as a teacher/administrator for three universities in three states over 40 years. From a robust life of art practice and travel, he has researched, produced, exhibited, and lectured passionately, working from life and in the studio in Starkville.
Funderburk has presented 34 one-person exhibitions across the U.S. He has been represented by galleries in Jackson, Atlanta, Charlotte, New Orleans, and Memphis (etc.), with work in public and private collections across the U.S and abroad, such as the Mississippi Museum of Art, Ogden Museum of Southern Art, and Memphis-Brooks Museum of Art.
For 36 years, the Mississippi Arts Commission has partnered with the Governor’s Office to host the Governor’s Arts Awards, the state’s most prestigious award for living artists. MAC is pleased to partner with Governor Tate Reeves’ office again to honor those who have shown excellence in the arts or within the arts community.
“We are thrilled to honor this extraordinary group of Mississippi artists,” said MAC Executive Director David Lewis. “These five recipients have impacted their art forms and our state. We look forward to honoring them at the award ceremony on February 8, 2024.”
Governor’s Arts Awards are given to individuals and organizations to recognize outstanding work in the artistic disciplines, arts-based community development, and/or arts patronage in Mississippi.
The 2024 recipients will be recognized at the 36th Governor’s Arts Awards ceremony at the Two Mississippi Museums in downtown Jackson on February 8, 2024, at 6 p.m. A public reception at 4:30 p.m. will precede the ceremony. MAC and Mississippi Public Broadcasting (MPB) partner to record and broadcast the award ceremony. The program will air on MPB Television and MPB Think Radio later in February 2024.
In recent years, MAC has created a poster featuring either artwork from a recipient or featuring a recipient of the awards. This year, MAC is pleased to announce the poster will feature the artwork of 2024 recipient Brent Funderburk. The artwork is titled “Blood Moon” and was created by Funderburk in 2020 using watercolor on paper. It is from his series titled “Re-Inflorescence” and is in the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Tibar and Olga Pechan. The painting shows vibrant colors and a striking scenery with a Magnolia flower in the forefront.
“As a former Bulldog, I was thrilled when our committee selected Brent Funderburk as a recipient,” said Lewis. “His work inspired me during my time at Mississippi State University, and I am delighted he is being recognized this year. There was no question about using one of his pieces for our coveted poster design.”
The poster also features the incredible sponsors of the awards. MAC could not honor these artists without the support of the businesses, couples, and individuals who contribute each year. If you are interested in sponsoring the awards this year to help honor these incredible recipients, please contact communications@arts.ms.gov or visit arts.ms.gov/gaa.
The Governor’s Arts Awards is an annual ceremony that recognizes individuals and organizations that have made noteworthy contributions to the arts in the state of Mississippi. Schools, businesses, organizations, arts initiatives, and events are eligible to receive Governor’s Arts Awards, in addition to individual artists and supporters of the arts. Notable past recipients include John Grisham, Bobby Rush, Thalia Mara, the Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi, and Malaco Records.
Award recipients are nominated by members of the public and selected by a committee of community arts leaders and industry peers. Recipients are not required to be Mississippi residents but must have significant ties to the state through some years of residency.
Ellie Banks | Mississippi Arts Commission
