Brent Funderburk is an artist and Giles Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Mississippi State University who has exhibited in more than 30 one person shows across the U.S., as well as in competitive exhibits nationally and internationally. His work has appeared in national magazines such as Watercolor Artist, Splash, Creative Quarterly and Southwest Art. The artist has taught classes and workshops in U.S. National Parks as well as in Italy, and has curated national touring exhibitions in U.S. museums. Funderburk has been awarded the Ralph E. Powe Research Excellence Award, the John Grisham Faculty Excellence Award, the Burlington Northern Award of Excellence, and the Coley-Lee Faculty Award, as well as being named the Official Artist of the 2010 U.S.A. International Ballet Competition. He is married to dancer/choreographer/teacher Deborah Wyatt Funderburk.