NEWS AND PUBLICATIONS

MBA Visual Arts Students Earn Top Regional and Scholastic Honors

Montgomery Bell Academy’s Visual Arts students have earned significant recognition this winter, receiving top honors at both the 35th Annual Scholastic Art Awards at Cheekwood and the Middle Tennessee Regional Student Art Exhibition at the Parthenon.

Scholastic Art Awards – Cheekwood Museum of Art

At the regional Scholastic Art Awards exhibition (March 14-April 5, 2026), MBA students were recognized across a wide range of media, including drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, and mixed media.

Gold Key Recipients

  • Oscar Argo (’29) - Ceramics & Glass
  • Jack Buntin (’28) - Photography
  • Paul Campbell (’30) - Drawing
  • Brash Cook (’27) - Sculpture
  • Dexter Gainous (’30) - Mixed Media
  • Gabe Guillamondegui (’27) - Photography
  • James Hood (’26) - Mixed Media
  • Jack Ross (’27) - Drawing
  • Robert Sawyer (’30) - Drawing
  • Charlie Sewell (’27) - Painting

In addition, 11 students earned Silver Key Awards, and 27 students received Honorable Mentions, demonstrating the remarkable depth and breadth of artistic excellence across grade levels. A selection of the artwork can be seen below. To see all pieces honored, click here.

Middle Tennessee Regional Student Art Exhibition – Parthenon

MBA artists also distinguished themselves at the Middle Tennessee Regional Student Art Exhibition (January 22–February 28, 2026), earning multiple first-, second-, and third-place awards.

Notable Achievements

  • William Meyer (’27) – Best of Mixed Media for Reconstructed Garden
  • J.D. Abernathy (’26) – 1st Place (Printmaking) and 2nd Place (Ceramics)
  • Henry Berk (’28) – 1st Place (Painting)
  • Myles Bradford (’29) – 1st Place (Painting)
  • Jack Buntin (’28) – 1st Place (Printmaking)
  • Brash Cook (’27) – 1st Place (Oil Painting)
  • Charlie Goggin (’27) – 1st Place (Ceramics)
  • James Hood (’26) – 1st Place (Mixed Media)
  • Thomas Roper (’29) – 1st Place (Sculpture)
  • Miller Ruehling (’30) – 1st Place (Sculpture)

Select pieces from the above artists can be found in the gallery below. Click here to view all recognized artwork.

In total, MBA students earned awards across nearly every grade level and artistic discipline. These honors reflect not only technical skill, but also creativity, discipline, and thoughtful artistic exploration. From large-scale sculpture and expressive portraiture to intricate printmaking and innovative mixed media works, MBA artists continue to demonstrate both artistic excellence and intellectual curiosity.

We are proud of our boys for the way they represent MBA in Nashville’s most respected student art exhibitions — and for the imagination, craftsmanship, and commitment they bring to their work every day on The Hill.