Meet the Judges and Judge Coordinator for the 64th Annual Halifax Art Festival. Bringing together expertise across a variety of artistic disciplines, our panel of accomplished artists, educators and arts professionals ensures a fair and thoughtful evaluation of each artist’s work. With a focus on creativity, originality, technical skill and craftsmanship, the panel celebrates artistic excellence, while Judge Coordinator Amber O’Neil oversees a consistent and organized judging process.

Amber O’Neil

Judge Coordinator

Amber is the Gallery Director of Gallery500, where she curates local, national and international fine art, and President of the Florida Women’s Arts Association (FLWAA), which supports the careers and professional development of female artists throughout Florida. She earned a B.A. in Humanities and an M.A. in the History & Criticism of Art and Museum Studies from Florida State University. Her experience includes work with museums and galleries throughout Florida and studies in London and Paris. Through exhibitions, community initiatives and fundraising, Amber connects artists and collectors while strengthening the arts community in Daytona Beach and Central Florida.

Sara Pedigo

Judge

Sara Pedigo is a painter whose representational work explores light and everyday experience. She earned her MFA in Painting from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2007 and serves as Professor of Fine Art at Flagler College in St. Augustine, where she teaches drawing, painting and advanced studio courses. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including at the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona Beach, the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery and the National Gallery in London’s BP Portrait Award exhibition. She has received grants from the Joan Mitchell Foundation and the Community Foundation for Northeast Florida.

Joseph M. VandenBerg

Judge

Joseph VandenBerg is a local artist and educator with 20 years of teaching experience in Volusia County. He earned his B.F.A. in Illustration from Savannah College of Art and Design in 2005 and teaches photography, art, and IB/AP design and drawing at Spruce Creek High School. His photography has been exhibited through the Art Consortium of Volusia County and at venues along Beach Street in Daytona Beach. An award-winning chalk artist, Joseph has participated in festivals throughout Volusia County, including the Daytona Beach Arts Festival. He also serves on the board of the ArtHaus Foundation in Port Orange, where he teaches Drawing 101.

Andres Montenegro

Judge - Clay & Ceramics

Andres Montenegro is a ceramic artist and educator born in Lima, Peru, who moved to Florida in 2004. He earned a B.F.A. in Ceramics from the University of Central Florida in 2016 and an M.F.A. specializing in ceramics and sculpture from Bowling Green State University in 2019. He taught ceramics at Daytona State College through late 2023 and served as Ceramics Director of Jane’s Art Center in New Smyrna Beach through late 2025. In 2025, Andres and his wife and partner, Angela Montenegro, co-founded Spruce Creek Pottery in Port Orange. Alongside his teaching and studio practice, he sells his work nationally through galleries and his online store.