VAO25 JUDGES

The VAO appoints members from the contemporary art world to join our expert panel to judge our artist's applications. These members can be artists, writers, art critics, professors, collectors and curators. If you would like to become a VAO judge for our Art Awards then please contact us here.

Cas Campbell

Cas Campbell is an artist based in London and Brighton. Originally from New Zealand, shereceived a BA in Painting from the University of Brighton (2018) and an MA in Painting fromthe Royal College of Art (2022). Campbell's art has been exhibited in the UK andinternationally, shortlisted for the Chaiya Art Awards and the Visual Open Art Awards, and isin public and private collections, including the Soho House Brighton Beacon collection.In 2021, Campbell received DYCP funding to explore natural ceramics and sensory processing disorders. This experience inspired her to begin supporting other disabled andneurodivergent artists and those with mental health challenges in applying for Arts Councilfunding and develop a second strand of her work focused on supporting artists workingoutside the mainstream.

Sofía Ruiz

Sofia Ruiz is a Costa Rican visual artist with over 18 years of experience. She holds Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in Painting and Printmaking and a Master’s in Education. Her work has been exhibited internationally in more than 35 exhibitions, including venues such as the Palais de Tokyo in Paris and MEAM in Barcelona, as well as through residencies at the MOSAM Art Museum in South Korea and the EPI Experimental Printmaking Institute in Pennsylvania, USA. She has received multiple recognitions, including the Boynes Artist Award, the Women in Art Award, and was the Overall Winner of the Visual Art Open 2024 in London.

Erin Remington

Erin Remington brings over a decade of expertise in the art world to her role as the Director of Sales and Curation at Saatchi Art. Holding a Masters in Modern Art History, Theory, and Criticism, alongside a B.S. in Business Administration from Azusa Pacific University, Erin furthered her studies in Art and Art History at the American University of Paris. She is also a member of the International Society of Appraisers focusing on 20th Century Fine Art.

With a profound passion for exceptional art, Erin is dedicated to collaborating with collectors in the selection of pieces that inspire and elevate their spaces. She firmly believes in the transformative power of art to inform, inspire, educate, and reshape our perspectives on the world. Erin's commitment to excellence has earned her recognition, with features in CNBC and Yahoo Finance.

David Reisman

David Reisman is an artist and writer who lives in New York City. He has exhibited his paintings and drawings in New York, Los Angeles, London, and Berlin, and has screened his videos at Millennium and the Museum of Modern Art. Reisman has written about art since the late 1980s, most recently for Texte zur Kunst and Frieze.

Reisman has a doctorate in education from Teachers College Columbia University, an MFA in painting from the University of Illinois, and a BFA from the University of Kansas. His dissertation examined questions related to the sociology of art, particularly the educational experiences and intentions of six practicing social activist artists. He also studied the history of art at Reading University in England during a junior year abroad, where one of his favorite professors was Neil MacGregor.

Elizabeth K. Garvey

Elizabeth K. Garvey is the Co-founder and Director of Garvey|Simon NYC (Previously she was President and Owner of EKG Art Advisory, (1999-2009), and Co-Director of Schmidt-Bingham Gallery (1989-1998). Liz is a member of ARTTable, a distinguished national network of leading women in the visual arts professions, and a founding member of the New York chapter of the Association of Women Art Dealers.

With over 30 years of experience in the fine art industry, Liz leverages her professional relationships with other galleries, auction houses, private dealers, and artists to offer boutique art advisory services and an exhibition program championing mid-career artists.

Liz received a B.A. in Art History from Indiana University, Bloomington (’88) and then moved to New York City in 1989 to attend Hunter College in Manhattan for a Masters in Art History. After completing her graduate coursework, Liz was appointed Co-Director of SBG where she remained for 10 years. Garvey started her own fine art advisory firm, EKG Art Advisory, in 1999. She assists collectors nationwide to establish and build art collections, and helps many individuals purchase their first piece of fine art. Her approach is down to earth, offering clients a relaxed entry into the New York art world.

Liz lives and works in New York City.

Abigail Jones

Abigail is a multidisciplinary artist and academic with a diverse career spanning fine art, illustration, scenic design, and sculpture. She studied Fine Art at the Byam Shaw School of Art before earning a British Academy Scholarship to pursue her MA at the Slade School of Art, (University College London).

Abigail’s work reflects her versatility. As a fashion illustrator, her work featured in Vogue’s December 2008 issue. As a scenic artist, she created the backdrop for the Supergrass Acoustic Tour, and as a sculptor, she restored the iconic Elfin Oak in Kensington Gardens.

Since 2006, Abigail has been a Lecturer at the University of the Arts London, specialising in drawing and product design. She has received a distinction for her Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning, further cementing her reputation as an academic leader. Her dual expertise as an educator and practitioner allows her to inspire the next generation of artists and designers with her breadth of experience and knowledge.

Claudia Ross

Claudia Ross is a Los Angeles-based writer whose fiction and criticism have been featured in prominent publications such as The Paris Review, Frieze, ArtReview, The Baffler, VICE, and LA Review of Books.

She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of California, Davis, and a background in Art History from Oberlin College.

In addition to her writing, Claudia serves as a Teaching Artist in Creative Writing at the Barnsdall Art Center under the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

Her work often explores the intersections of art, culture, and society, contributing to critical dialogues within the contemporary art scene.

Shumaiya Khan

Shumaiya Khan (b. 1990, UK) is an artist and writer based in London. Raised in Bradford, West Yorkshire, within a British Bengali family, she earned her BA Hons in Design from Goldsmiths, University of London, and will begin her MAFA at City & Guilds of London Art School in September 2024. Although always connected to painting, she fully resumed her art practice in 2020, embarking on an expressive and experimental journey.

Khan’s work is rooted in emotional and metaphysical storytelling, exploring themes such as feminine identity, spirituality, morality, and societal dynamics. She uses oil, charcoal, and poetry across various media, including canvas, paper, and organic materials like fruit and plaster, tying these elements to religious and political ideologies surrounding women. Her textured abstract expressionist works often feature cosmic and natural patterns, creating immersive and atmospheric pieces.

Khan’s practice combines full-color, richly layered paintings with fast-paced, raw studies that capture native bodily movement. Her poetry often accompanies her visual art, written on the backs of her canvases to further deepen the narrative. Through her work, Khan invites viewers to look inward, prioritizing emotional connection over visual interpretation.

Her art has gained international recognition, with collectors in the United States, South America, and Australia. In addition to her solo practice, Khan collaborates with the beauty and fashion industries on commissions and creative projects.