Lorentz Kleiser (American, 1879-1963), Agriculture tapestry study (detail), ca.1923, oil on paper, transferred from the University’s Business Office (87.55)
Art in Bloom 2025 Wrap-Up and Awards
The 2025 Art in Bloom exhibition was a huge success with more than 1,200 attending the event. Visitors were treated to 17 inspiring floral arrangements in four galleries and the museum’s hallways and voted to help choose six awards, four for professional florists and two for student designers. Four other special awards were designated. Below are the beautiful arrangements so generously provided by florists in the central Missouri area.
Bountiful thanks go to all involved, the participating florists without whom the event could not occur and the general public who so enthusiastically visited the museum to enjoy Art in Bloom 2025.
Best Art-Inspired Design
Bare Roots: Kailey Russell
Florist’s Statement: “For my Art in Bloom submission, I selected a still life because of the variety of fruits, the textures, and the hardware included in the painting. The coloring and shading used by the artist are of particular interest to me as well.”
Best Art-Inspired Design: Student Florist
Columbia Public Schools’ Columbia Area Career Center Floral Design: Ethan Barner, Katie Lockett, Amali Noel Ramesh, and Jacie Perkey
Student Florists’ Statement: “When we were walking through the Museum of Art and Archaeology, we noticed that the colors in this glassware, especially the gold, really ‘pop.’ We think the combination of colors in the plate and in our eventual arrangement will really come alive as we select the flowers to use for Art in Bloom.”
Best Use of Color
Allen's Flowers, Inc.: Amy Ferguson
Florist’s Statement: “I love the abstract design of this painting as well as the vibrant colors used by the artist. As I considered all of the works in the museum’s four galleries and hallways, I felt that Natkin’s painting was the one I most wanted to use as my inspiration, that I could show in my floral arrangement a lot of textural design elements. And I knew that I would be able to use multiple colors to best represent the artwork.”
Best Use of Color: Student Florist
Mizzou SAIFD (Student Chapter of the American Institute of Floral Designers): Gavin Bennett and Isabella Cavanagh
Student Florists' Statement: "We chose this work of art for Art in Bloom because we felt inspired by its complexity and the depth of design. The contrast of highlights and lowlights used by the artist bring a new perspective of style to our attention."
Most Creative Design
The Bottom Ground: Korrin Zerr
Florist’s Statement: “When I was considering what to choose as my inspiration for Art in Bloom, I was drawn to the museum’s Gallery of European and American Art. In it, I selected Still Life with Bowl for its meaning and because of all of the different elements captured by the artist in the painting, particularly the book. My plan is to create a structure that replicates the shape of a book and then arrange flowers so they appear to be growing out of it.”
People's Choice
Jeremy Estes
Florist’s Statement: “I love color, and these paired glass works are a burst of brilliant color and elegant lines. The two are wacky and sexy at the same time.”
Arts & Science Dean's Choice
Mizzou’s Everyday Floral Design Honors class: Hallie Ray
Student Florist’s Statement: “My floral arrangement, titled Man of Peace, is inspired by Leonard Baskin’s powerful depiction of suffering and resilience with the same name. The twisted barbed wire that forms the tree reflects the barbed wire wrapped around the figure and the dying dove in Baskin’s painting — a painful reminder of the oppression and suffering endured by Holocaust victims. Red rose petals (getting lighter the higher up the tree) lead upward along the tree, symbolizing the blood lost in the struggle and sacrifice made in the pursuit of peace and hope. Despite the thorns and the pain, the petals guide the eye to the top of the tree, where a nest of greenery, white Daffodils, Tulips, Hyacinth, and Pieris Japonica rest — representing peace, hope, and new life. A dove nestled within the nest signifies a moment of rest and relief, symbolizing the hope that emerges after unimaginable hardship. My arrangement is intended to be thought-provoking, honoring the resilience of those who suffered, and the memory of lives lost in the Holocaust. The contrast between the harsh barbed wire and the delicate flowers reflects the tension between pain and peace — a reminder that even after profound suffering, hope can still bloom.”
Truman the Tiger's Choice
Blooms and Wishes Flowers
Florists’ Statement: “The images on the Red-Figure Bell Krater have a garden style similar to contemporary floral design styles. We felt that the curved lines of the tree next to the woman who is holding a plate on the side of the Krater would make for an inspiring starting place as we develop our Art in Bloom design.”
Museum Director's Choice
Columbia Garden Club
Florists’ Statement: “When we toured the museum’s galleries to make our selection, it was the movement within this work of art that caught our eyes immediately. It is a complex but simple composition. And it is the imagination of the artist that drew us in and caused us to choose this work of art as our focus for Art in Bloom.”
Art in Bloom Committee's Choice
Mizzou’s Everyday Floral Design Honors class: Abby Richardson
Student Florist’s Statement: “My floral arrangement consists of several small flowers that come together to replicate the patterns on the miniature seed pot creation I chose as my inspiration. I have created a butterfly out of wire along with a ladybug out of wire to include as well. Floral foam has been used so the flowers last in the container they have been placed in. Beaded strings are incorporated into the floral arrangement as well. These beaded strings are used to differentiate the different flower sections in the arrangement, like how the lines on the miniature seed pot differentiate the different sections and patterns. My color scheme consists of several oranges, browns, reds, along with other warm colors to copy the colors used in the original creation. The target audience consists of anyone interested in gardening, culture, or art. My attention to detail, symbolism, and incorporation of elements, like the wire sculptures and beaded strings, would appeal to people who are interested in art or crafting in general. My arrangement draws inspiration from the miniature seed pot design, which has a tie to cultural and traditional art. ‘Judy Lewis combined traditional Acoma designs and manufacturing techniques with whimsical touches…’ Acoma Pueblo is a Native American Pueblo in New Mexico, so audiences interested in folk art or cultural heritage might be drawn to it as well.”
Mizzou’s Tiger Garden: Emma Baepler and Nancy Brush
Florists’ Statement: “We were drawn to the earthy tones of this work. The image reminds me of parts of my childhood. Growing up on a small farm where my siblings and I could always find adventure and use our imaginations to the fullest. This print has a carefree, whimsical feel that I want to try to capture in my floral arrangement. I like using more delicate and fun styles and want to incorporate elements that represent the time period and organic feel of the art we selected.”
Columbia Public Schools’ Columbia Area Career Center Floral Design: Patricia Diaz-Torres, Mara Gaeckler, Natalie Klenklen, and Shawn Turner
Student Florists’ Statement: “As we walked the museum’s galleries to make our selection for Art in Bloom, we were most drawn to the color, symbolism, and the four points on the ends of the Devotional Cross in the Gallery of European and American Art.”
Mizzou’s Everyday Floral Design Honors class: Aryahna Le Grand
Student Florist’s Statement: “In Shadows is inspired by Jan Berdyszak’s painting In Silence. The painting consists of two canvases that feature the flow of different shades of grey, white, blue, red, and black. The Museum of Art and Archaeology’s (MA&A) painting is a part of a series, all named In Silence, and created in the 1970s. The work in the MA&A’s collection was created in 1975. When first looking at this painting, my eyes were immediately drawn to the shadows surrounding the canvases caused by the museum’s lighting. This inspired a new look at the flow of colors and the shape of the overall design. Rather than creating sharp and static lines, I chose to use dynamic lines and create a flowing pattern in my floral arrangement that swirls around. As I continued to develop what I imagined the shape of my arrangement would be, I thought about how it could almost look like a tornado. I wanted it to feel like the colors I chose were surrounding each other in the same way the shadows surround the canvases. It was also important to me to have a separate shape of flowers to highlight the separate canvas that hangs below. When looking at both my In Shadows and and the museum’s In Silence, I hope the viewer will take a moment to step back and look at the movement of the shadows and color.”
Columbia Public Schools’ Columbia Area Career Center Floral Design: Hannah Barbata, Paisley Parkinson, Finley Polacek, and Lila Tidball
Student Florists’ Statement: “The texture of and all of the detail work within this large object is what drew us to this as our selection for Art in Bloom as we toured the museum. We also see the potential to use color in our floral arrangement.”
Ophelia’s Flowers: Jeni Mae
Florist’s Statement: “I love the gesture depicted in this object (and I love the entire vibe of the museum’s Gallery of Antiquities!). The terra cotta, turquoise, metal, and stone – it is all very ‘hardcore’ (in a really great way!).”
River City Florist: Lauren Moscato
Florist’s Statement: “Being a lover of botany, I have always been captivated by Dale Chihuly’s art forms, especially those that are installed in garden settings. My husband and I travel around to see different displays of Chihuly’s glass, so I am thrilled that to be able to have the opportunity to choose a piece of Chihuly glass as the inspiration for my Art in Bloom floral display!”
Holland Floral Design: Jenna Leible
Florist’s Statement: “The color, the shape, the reflection, the way the pieces of glass shine and reflect and all mesh together – all of those played into my selection of the cullet as my inspiration for my Art in Bloom floral arrangement. This little part of the museum’s Earth as Artist: Glass exhibition is very intriguing, so eye catching, like treasure.”