National Sculpture Society is pleased to announce the 89th Annual Awards Exhibition. The show will open at Brookgreen Gardens in Pawleys Island, SC on August 6. The juried show features the figurative works of 38 contemporary sculptors and is on view through October 23. The 17 prize winners from the show will then travel to New York City and exhibit their work in the 89^th Annual Award Winners Exhibition at the NSS Gallery from November 14 to January 27, 2023.

The Annual Awards Exhibition is National Sculpture Society’s most popular show. Hundreds of artists apply to the juried competition which offers over twenty-thousand dollars in cash prizes. The variety of subject matter and media exhibited represents the diverse styles, backgrounds, and disciplines of NSS members. Fellows (FNSS), Elected Members (NSS), and Associates make up the levels of sculptor membership in the organization, which is international in scope and appeal. National Sculpture Society is dedicated to promoting excellence in sculpture that is inspired by nature.

Highlights of the 89^th Annual Awards Exhibition include a turkey in full strut; dancers in a tight, acrobatic spin; a female torso made entirely from paper; a plump, red fox; and a swimmer preparing for an active day at the beach.

Artists participating in the show are Mark Edward Adams, FNSS; Douglas Aja, NSS; Jeremy Bradshaw, NSS; Lindley Briggs, NSS; Mary Buckman, NSS; Blair Buswell, FNSS; Emily Caito; Andrew Cawrse; Zofia Chamera; Matthew James Collins, NSS; Darrell Davis, FNSS; Angela Mia De la Vega, FNSS; Morgan Dummitt, NSS; Erik Ebeling; Andrew Etheridge; Varvàra Fern; Emmanuel Fillion; Martin Gates, NSS; Dr Gindi; Brian Keith, NSS; Kirsten Kokkin, FNSS; Richard MacDonald, FNSS; Walter Matia, FNSS; Deanna Rae Montero; Dora Natella, FNSS; Peregrine O’Gormley, FNSS; Colin Poole, NSS; Kristine Poole, NSS; William Pupa; Paul Rhymer, FNSS; Brittany Ryan, NSS; Stefan Savides, FNSS; Nicholas Thompson; LeRoy Transfield, FNSS; Susan Wakeen; Jeremiah D. Welsh, NSS; and Anna Michele Whitson.

The Jury of Selection and Jury of Awards play an important part in the annual exhibition and each jury is comprised of two sculptors and one curator/art historian. This year the Jury of Selection chose the 37 works from the 366 entries received from around the world. The Jury of Selection included Sashiko Akiyama, Sculptor; Joshua Koffman, FNSS; and Emily M. Weeks, Principal Art Historian, Lyme Academy of Fine Arts.

A Jury of Awards will convene after the show is installed at Brookgreen Gardens and will include Eugene Daub, FNSS; Kaitee Floyd, Owner, Cheryl Newby Gallery (Pawleys Island, SC); and Bryan Rapp, Sculptor. The 89th Annual Award winners will be announced at a closing reception on October 21; the Brookgreen Gardens People’s Choice award will be announced at that time as well.

National Sculpture Society was founded in New York City in 1893 by a group of America’s most prominent sculptors. Its members have created much of this country’s public sculpture, coins, and medals since the late 1800s. It is the oldest organization of professional sculptors in the United States and has been hosting exhibitions for over a century.

Brookgreen Gardens was founded by Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington in 1931 and today is a National Historic Landmark and a garden museum with the most extensive collection of figurative sculpture in an outdoor setting by American artists in the world.  In addition to the gardens, Brookgreen offers year-round courses and workshops to sculptors as well as programs and tours for visitors of all ages and interests.