Top honors in the 2025 Juried Biennial Exhibition hosted by Olin Hall Galleries went to multimedia artist Jacob Smith of Roanoke, photographer Donna Cooper of Hardy, and painter William Rutherfoord of Roanoke.
The on-campus exhibition, first held in 1990, is organized every two years to showcase the work of diverse regional artists from within a 200-mile span of Roanoke College. Mediums featured include paintings, sculpture, graphic design, ceramics, textiles, mixed media, video, photography and more.
This year’s winners were selected by juror James Salomon, director of design projects for Achille Salvagni Atelier, and awarded prizes sponsored by the Joanne Leonhardt Cassullo Center for Art.
The full show is on display now through March 16. Admission is free and open to the public. Olin Hall Galleries is open from 1 to 4 p.m. daily (closed during campus breaks and holidays).
FIRST PLACE: Jacob Smith, of Roanoke, for his sculpture “History of the Seeder Nation”
Smith is a multifaceted artist who specializes in a broad range of monumental sculptures, paintings, photography, and 2D/3D digital media. He has previously taught a variety of courses, including art, at Ferrum College, Virginia Western Community College, George Washington University and the Guy Mason Center in Washington, D.C. In addition to teaching children, adults and seniors, Smith served as the former director of art for 4DD Studios, in which he managed the creations of several exhibits that now reside in museums, parks, and government centers across the United States. More information about his work is available at thejakesmith.com.
“Regardless of the intended viewer/participant, it is my goal to provide a safe, educational and above all powerful interaction,” Smith wrote in his bio. “This is achieved through the use of the newest tools and technologies, thorough knowledge of technique and material, and an ongoing study of human response to passive and interactive installations.”
SECOND PLACE: Donna Cooper, of Hardy, for her black-and-white photograph “A Dance Invitation”
Cooper, an artist who specializes in photography, sculpting and dance, uses body movements and the elements of nature to create visual and engaging art within the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. She earned a master of fine arts from the Art Institute of Chicago. More information about her work is available at donnacooperart.com.
“My art process addresses memory, history, place and the body. Collaborating with the landscape through site specific interventions is an integral part of my practice,” Cooper said in her bio. “The essence of any space or place is installed within its past. Researching the history of the land along with the flora and fauna of the area are critical steps in my process of accessing its story.”
THIRD PLACE: William Rutherfoord, of Roanoke, for his oil painting “One Nation Under A Spell”
Rutherfoord, a painter and sculptor, earned his bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Virginia Commonwealth University and his master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He first exhibited his work in 1984 throughout New York, and now his work is displayed in several public and private galleries, including the Taubman Museum of Art, alongside artists such as William Eggleston and Robert Colescott. More information about Rutherfoord’s work is available at billrutherfoord.com.
Olin Hall Galleries hosts multiple exhibitions each year that highlight contemporary works from emerging and established artists. More information about its spring calendar can be found at olinhallgalleries.com.