Meet Our 2026 Jurors
ReturningAshanti Davis
Artist, Thinker, + Social Justice Advocate, Pueblo Consulting
Ashanti Davis brings her passion for art as a force for meaningful change as an artist, innovator, and advocate. As co-founder of The Unless Society and Community Experiences Designer at Pueblo LLC, she’s a guiding light for social justice and arts education. Ashanti is an Alumni Fellow of the ASTC Leadership and Diversity Fellowship program, a Steering Committee Member for the Gender Equity in Museums Movement, an Advisory Committee member for the ARTS at King Street Station program in Seattle, WA, and a board member for Nexus Regen. She received a BA in Creative Arts and Communications from Richmond American International University in London, and an MA in Museum Studies. Her dynamic journey spans international studies and groundbreaking projects, all centered around creativity, equity, and empowerment.
NewJessica Wilks
Director of Curatorial, Tacoma Art Museum
Jessica Wilks serves as the Director of Curatorial at Tacoma Art Museum and brings more than 20 years of museum experience to the role. She leads the curatorial team and guides the development of exhibitions, acquisitions, and long-term collection strategy. Her work centers on advancing Tacoma Art Museum’s commitment to the art and artists of the Pacific Northwest and the broader western region.
NewSandy Vo
Executive Director, BelRed Arts District Community Alliance
Sandy Vo is the Executive Director for the BelRed Arts District Community Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to leading the strategic growth and development of an arts district in Bellevue. The organization supports artists, creative businesses/organization and partners to elevate the District's visibility, fuels the economy and shapes a lasting and sustainable cultural destination on the Eastside. Our mission brings together the power of arts, culture and innovation to build a vibrant Arts District that will inspire and thrive for generations.
Andy McConnell
Interdisciplinary artist, Pacific Northwest
NewAndy McConnell was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. From an early age he identified with artists who inspired him, including Mark Tobey, George Tsutakawa, Alexander Calder and Henry Moore. While a student at Fairhaven College he studied poetry and painting with the poet, Robert Sund during an multi semester independent study project and interviewed elder Northwest Art luminaries Mary Randlett, Guy Anderson, Bill Cumming, Lisel Salzer and William Radcliff for an oral history class. McConnell went on to earn a master’s degree in Applied Behavioral Science at Bastyr University. Throughout his life, his love for art and the Pacific Northwest have remained consistent and at its core his work and material provenance are connected to this place. His pieces are most often abstract: non-representational metaphors of the inner human landscape exploring themes of identity, accident, balance, and difference. Craft is key to his work, a habit stemming from years spent working as a carpenter.
Artist Portfolio
ReturningGreg Robinson
Cynthia Sears Endowed Chief Curator, Bainbridge Island Museum of Art
Greg Robinson’s remarkable journey into the arts began with curating one of the largest hospital art collections in the U.S. From leading the Pratt Fine Arts Center to directing the Museum of Northwest Art, Greg’s impact is profound. Now at BIMA, he’s a master of unearthing regional talent and showcasing diverse, compelling work. Greg’s career highlights include serving on the Betty Bowen Award Committee and authoring books on Puget Sound artists, making him a dedicated champion for Northwest art.
ReturningRyan James
Gallery Director and Art Advisor at Ryan James Fine Arts
Since founding Ryan James Fine Arts in 2011, Ryan James has been a beacon for abstract, modern, and conceptual art on the Eastside. With a stellar reputation as a curator and art advocate, Ryan has served on the Bellevue Arts Museum Board of Trustees, chaired the Kirkland Cultural Arts Commission, and currently supports organizations like the VALA Arts Center and the Kirkland Arts Center Advisory Board. His gallery has earned Best Art Gallery by 425 Magazine for eight consecutive years!
