The sixteen prize winning sculptures from the 92nd Annual Award Winners Exhibition will be on view at Lyme Art Association (LAA) in Old Lyme, CT from February 27 through April 10.

The 92nd Annual Awards Exhibition opened at Brookgreen Gardens and was on view there from August 2 – October 26. The sixteen prize winning works then traveled to the NSS Gallery in NYC from November 17, 2025 – January 23, 2026.

A reception is planned for Sunday, March 1 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at LAA.

The top prize — the NSS Gold Medal and Lloyd Glasson Memorial Award — went to Brendan Johnston for his marble carving, Eidolon X. Johnston found the inspiration for the portrait within the marble itself. “My art practice is built upon technique and the mimetic process. I’m interested in how to manipulate inanimate materials to create objects that are figurative representations. Technique for me is a way of communing with materials as they transform into new forms. Eidolon X was carved from a block of Norwegian Rose Marble. This beautiful and hard to obtain stone is challenging to carve, as the colored ‘veins’ are extremely hard while the white areas are very soft. The unusual patterning of the stone is meant to enhance the character of the portrait.” In 2024, Johnston won the NSS Silver Medal and Maurice B. Hexter Prize for his carving Tiburtinus I at NSS’ 91st Annual Awards Exhibition. It was also Johnston’s first stone carving.

The NSS Silver Medal and Maurice B. Hexter Prize went to NSS Fellow Walter Matia for his bronze blue heron posed stealthily amongst the reeds titled The Stalker. “Some birds are about what they look like; some birds are about attitude; and some birds are about when and where you see them. Little blue herons are the whole package: strikingly beautiful, assertive, elusive, and a perfect design complement to where you find them.”

Utah artist and NSS Fellow, Blair Buswell won the NSS Bronze and André Harvey Award for his piece Risky Business which depicts the dangerous job of a rodeo clown. “This sculpture depicts the moment in time after the clown has done his job of diverting the bull’s attention away from the fallen rider, when he suddenly realizes the bull’s focus is on HIM.”

LIST OF 92nd ANNUAL AWARD WINNERS:

NSS Gold Medal and Lloyd Glasson Memorial Award of $5,000 – For the best overall sculpture in the exhibition (First Place, “Best in Show”)

Eidolon X by Brendan Johnston

 

NSS Silver Medal and Maurice B. Hexter Prize of $3,000 – For the second best overall sculpture in the exhibition (Second Place)

 The Stalker by Walter Matia, FNSS

 

NSS Bronze Medal and André Harvey Award of $2,500

For the third best overall sculpture in the exhibition (Third Place)

 Risky Business by Blair Buswell, FNSS

 

The Anna Hyatt Huntington Award of $1,000 and a Brookgreen Medal – for a work in any medium displaying high quality in concept, design, and execution

Interlude by Roderick Morgan

 

Fred and Cheryl Newby Patrons Award of $1,000

Moonshadow by Roger Martin, FNSS

 

Marcel Jovine President’s Prize of $1,000 – for a realistic work, preferably in the form of a bas-relief

Portrait of Nanette Dyer by Heidi Wastweet, FNSS

 

Marilyn Newmark Memorial Award of $1,000 – For a realistic sculpture done in the classical tradition

Sonny and Eugenia by Gary Staab, FNSS

 

Marion and Gilbert Roller Memorial Prize of $1,000

Running Deerhound by Bart Walter, FNSS

 

The Susan and Robert Polack Prize of $1,000 – recognizing artistic achievement by a first-time exhibitor

The Tricycle by David Tumblety

 

Pietro and Alfrieda Montana Memorial Prize of $750 – For an outstanding work, either carved or cast

La Serenissima by Béla Bácsi, FNSS

 

Agop Agopoff Memorial Prize of $500 – For a classical sculpture

 Ògún by Erik Ebeling

 

Ortmayer/Corcoran Teacher Inspiration Award of $500

Lunch Line by Dan Burgette, NSS

 

Jane B. Armstrong Memorial Award of $400

Autoritratto di Fantasia by Jim Licaretz, FNSS

 

Margaret Hexter Prize of $300 for a creative sculpture in the round

Playtime by Douglas Aja, NSS

 

Edith H. and Richman Proskauer Prize of $300 for a non-traditional sculpture

Portrait of James Baldwin by Warren King, NSS

 

Beverly Hoyt Robertson Memorial Award of $200 and Gloria Medal – For the work of the highest quality by a young sculptor (age 40 or younger)

Backscratcher by Evan Morse