Innovation Workshops Archives - �Ļ�Ӱ�� of Art and Design

Spend spring break solving real cold cases

awalters — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Spring break is coming, and a small group of artists and community members will spend it sculpting the faces of real unidentified cold case victims from skull replicas—and the work they make could help solve a case.

The Forensic Art of Facial Reconstruction workshop returns to �Ļ�Ӱ��’s main campus March 9–13, 2026, running Monday through Friday, 10 am to 5 pm. Led by Joe Mullins, Senior Forensic Imaging Specialist at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and one of the foremost forensic artists in the country, this five-day, hands-on studio experience is unlike anything else on campus.

Here’s what actually happens.

Participants work from 3D-printed replicas of real skulls sourced from medical examiner offices, using tissue depth markers, anatomy lessons, and careful observation to sculpt the faces of unidentified cold case victims in clay. The busts created during these workshops have helped crack real cases. A �Ļ�Ӱ�� grad who participated in a previous session helped identify a victim whose family had been waiting for answers.

Mullins has been running forensic workshops nationwide since 2015. Previous workshops have directly contributed to case closures nationwide. The work made here doesn’t just sit in a gallery—it gets sent to sheriff’s offices and pushed to media outlets in hopes that someone, somewhere, will recognize a face.

The workshop is open to all majors, all experience levels, and members of the community. All supplies are included. Space is limited—this is a small, intensive experience, and spots go fast.

If you’ve ever wanted to use your skills for something that genuinely matters, this is the moment. Don’t overthink it. Don’t wait to see if something better comes up. Register now.

The Forensic Art of Facial Reconstruction March 9–13, 2026 | Monday–Friday, 10 am–5 pm �Ļ�Ӱ�� Main Campus All supplies included. Open to students, faculty, staff, and community members.

Contact:
Office of Marketing and Communications
communications@ringling.edu
941-309-4008

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Illustration grad finds his calling in forensic art

awalters — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0000

�Ļ�Ӱ�� graduate Noah Shadowens ’25, Illustration, recently featured in a Sarasota Magazine article, turned an unexpected workshop experience into the pursuit of a career in forensic art. Initially aiming for a career in concept art or children’s books, Shadowens shifted focus after participating in a forensic facial reconstruction workshop led by veteran forensic artist Joe Mullins as part of the College’s Innovation Workshops. The experience proved transformative—his reconstruction work helped solve a real cold case, leading to the identification of a previously unknown individual. Now, Shadowens is pursuing forensic art professionally, hoping to become one of only about 200 people in the U.S. working in the field. Motivated by the impact his work had on the victim’s family, he’s committed to using his artistic skills to bring dignity to unidentified remains and closure to grieving families.

Read the article on ’s website.

Contact:
Office of Marketing and Communications
communications@ringling.edu
941-309-4008

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Forensic workshop student helps identify Fort Myers John Doe

Jeremiah Boucher — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 18:39:04 +0000

A current student at �Ļ�Ӱ�� of Art and Design recently helped to resolve a 2024 Florida John Doe case. During a spring break workshop on forensic facial reconstruction, Noah Shadowens ’25, Illustration, created a sculpture based on unidentified remains from the Fort Myers Medical Examiner’s Office. The sculpture was later identified by family members as Shane Michael Williams, whose remains were found in August 2024.

The workshop was led by Joe Mullins, a forensic imaging specialist from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Using 3D-printed skulls based on unidentified remains from active cases throughout America and other countries, workshop attendees were given limited anatomical and background information about their subjects and instructed in techniques for recreating potential likenesses of their busts with clay.

Readers are encouraged to view and share the photo gallery in this article, featuring the busts created in this year’s workshop, to facilitate additional identifications of unidentified remains and missing persons. This is the second year in a row that Mullins has taught this workshop at the College; Shadowens also attended last year’s workshop.

If you recognize someone from the busts created in this workshop, please contact �Ļ�Ӱ��’s Office of Continuing and Professional Studies, who will direct you to the detectives in charge of each case, at cps@ringling.edu, or call 941-955-8866.

Ringling Studio Manager Noah Coleman 3D-printed and assembled the skull recreations based on skull scans provided by various national and international medical examiner’s offices. “He contributes to the success of each completed bust,” said Diane Zorn, �Ļ�Ӱ��’s Education Program Coordinator of Continuing and Professional Studies.

Mullins will next be at �Ļ�Ӱ�� to teach , from May 16-18. That course, geared toward advanced artists and medical professionals familiar with Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator, will provide an in-depth analysis of the skull’s anatomy and related soft tissues, with additional anthropological insights.

Many of the busts are currently onview at the Brizdle-Schoenberg Special Collections Center on the second floor of the Alfred R. Goldstein Library.

Contact:

Office of Marketing and Communications
communications@ringling.edu
941-309-4008

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