Daniel S. DeLuca

Judge

Daniel S. DeLuca is an artist, designer, and AI researcher whose interdisciplinary practice explores the intersections of art, science, ecology, and emerging technologies. His work combines creative inquiry with research-driven methodologies to examine how artistic practice can respond to environmental and technological change.

DeLuca has created projects for the Institute of Contemporary Art and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and formerly served as Director of Mobius Inc., the influential Boston-based experimental artist-run organization. His performance, installation, and collaborative works have been presented nationally and internationally, including Grace Exhibition Space (New York), Defibrillator Gallery (Chicago), Living Arts (Tulsa), Le Lieu (Quebec City), Venice International Performance Art Week (Italy), and Bbeyond (Belfast).

From 2019–2022, DeLuca served as Distinguished Art Fellow in the graduate program at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s College of Visual and Performing Arts. In 2024, he was appointed Faculty Fellow in Artificial Intelligence at Coastal Carolina University, where he led interdisciplinary research examining faculty and student perspectives on the integration of AI into teaching and scholarly practice.

His current research includes a collaborative sustainability project investigating the relationship between prescribed fire and tree frog diversity within longleaf pine ecosystems. As a juror, DeLuca brings a unique perspective that bridges traditional artistic excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the evolving role of technology in contemporary creative practice.

Logan Woodle

Judge

Logan Woodle is a metalsmith, educator, and the 7th generation to live on his family farm in Conway, SC. He earned an MFA from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in 2012 and a BFA from Winthrop University in 2009. Currently, Logan is Chair of the Department of Visual Arts at Coastal Carolina University and the PI of the Coastal Space Program. His work explores the intersections between income inequality, climate change, agrarian culture, and craft. Logan’s work has been exhibited across the country including the Metal Museum’s exhibition, 40 Under 40: The Next Generation of American Metal Artists, and Food Justice: Growing a Healthier Community through Art at Contemporary Craft.

A Fellow and Past Board Member of the National Sculpture Society, Wofford is also an elected member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and a Signature Member of the Portrait Society of America. His award-winning work has been recognized internationally through numerous exhibitions, publications, and prestigious commissions.

Wofford’s monumental public sculptures can be found throughout the United States, including installations for the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Alabama; the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, Nebraska; the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in Burbank, California; and the Avoyelles Parish Courthouse in Louisiana.

His celebrated Harriet Tubman monuments, The Journey to Freedom and The Beacon of Hope, have toured more than thirty cities, inspiring audiences across the nation while honoring one of America’s greatest freedom fighters.

As a judge, Wofford brings decades of experience in fine art, monumental sculpture, portraiture, and public commissions, offering a discerning eye for craftsmanship, artistic excellence, and the power of visual storytelling.

Wesley Wofford, FNSS

Judge

Emmy® and Academy Award®-winning sculptor Wesley Wofford is one of America’s leading figurative artists. Renowned for his expressive modeling and dynamic use of form and texture, Wofford creates emotionally powerful monuments and portrait sculptures that celebrate history, courage, and the human spirit.

A Fellow and Past Board Member of the National Sculpture Society, Wofford is also an elected member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and a Signature Member of the Portrait Society of America. His award-winning work has been recognized internationally through numerous exhibitions, publications, and prestigious commissions.

Wofford’s monumental public sculptures can be found throughout the United States, including installations for the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Alabama; the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, Nebraska; the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in Burbank, California; and the Avoyelles Parish Courthouse in Louisiana.

His celebrated Harriet Tubman monuments, The Journey to Freedom and The Beacon of Hope, have toured more than thirty cities, inspiring audiences across the nation while honoring one of America’s greatest freedom fighters.

As a judge, Wofford brings decades of experience in fine art, monumental sculpture, portraiture, and public commissions, offering a discerning eye for craftsmanship, artistic excellence, and the power of visual storytelling.

Ashlyn Pope

Judge

Ashlyn Pope is an Assistant Professor in 3-d foundations at Coastal Carolina University in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. She is also a ceramic and textile artist of Gullah descent. Pope earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Kennesaw State University in 2013. There, she received her degree in Ceramics and Printmaking. She went on to complete her Master’s Degree in Ceramics at The Pennsylvania State University in 2019.

Recently, Pope completed a solo exhibition at the Myrtle Beach Art Museum named A History of Moving Forward II in which she had 6 gallery spaces. Pope in the last few years, has had her work published in the book Contemporary Black American Ceramic Artists and had an article written about her work in Ceramics Monthly Magazine. She was honored with having her work grace the cover of that particular issue.