National Sculpture Society is pleased to announce the 92nd Annual Awards Exhibition. The show opens at Brookgreen Gardens in Pawleys Island, SC on August 2. The juried show features the figurative works of 41 contemporary sculptors and will be on view through October 26. The 16 prize winners from the show will then travel to New York City and the work will be displayed at the NSS Gallery in the 92nd Annual Award Winners Exhibition from November 17, 2025 to January 23, 2026. Lyme Art Association will host the 92^nd Annual Award Winners Exhibition at their Old Lyme, CT location from February 27 – April 10, 2026. An exhibition catalogue is available for purchase.

The Annual Awards Exhibition is National Sculpture Society’s most popular show. Hundreds of artists apply to the juried competition which offers over nineteen-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 92nd Annual Awards Exhibition include a lively wire sequence of a marabou stork in motion; an intricate carving made entirely from an ostrich egg; a portrait relief of two nuzzling grizzlies; a Scottish Deerhound in full sprint; and a powerful reminder of the COVID pandemic. Dozens of figures, busts, and reliefs — encompassing a diversity of topics and material — round out the 92nd Annual Awards Exhibition which promises something special for everyone.

Artists participating in the show are: Douglas Aja, NSS; Tom Ashbourne; Béla Básci, FNSS; Debra Balchen, NSS; Dan Burgette, NSS; Richard Burke; Blair Buswell, FNSS; LeaAnn Cogswell, FNSS; John Robert Drlik-Mead; Erik Ebeling; Daniel Glanz, NSS; Jim Green, NSS; Thomas Hill; Brendan Johnston; Warren King, NSS; Jim Licaretz, FNSS; Madeleine Lord; Roger Martin, FNSS; Adam Matano, NSS; Water Matia, FNSS; Janice Mauro, FNSS; Deanne McKeown; Michael Messing; Angela Mia, FNSS; Roderick Morgan; Evan Morse; Scott Myers, NSS; James Nelson; Joseph Noorigian; Ombasa Peter Okechi; Chuong Pham; Moana Ponder; Vasil Rakaj; Paul Reiber; Sherry Rossini; Stephen Saxenian, NSS; Gary Staab, FNSS; David Tumblety; Bart Walter, FNSS; Dorie Wardie; and Heidi Wastweet, FNSS.

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 41 works from the 326 entries received from around the world. The Jury of Selection included Sculptor and 2024 Stanley Bleifeld Memorial Grant recipient, Benjamin Phillips and Paul Michael, Gallery Director & Curator at Lyme Art Association (Old Lyme, CT).

A Jury of Awards — to be determined — will convene after the show is installed at Brookgreen Gardens. The 92nd Annual Award winners will be announced at a closing reception on October 25; 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.

Lyme Art Association’s mission is to advance the cause of representational fine arts by owning, maintaining, and preserving an historic building and galleries in Old Lyme, Connecticut, holding art exhibitions, and conducting educational programs for the benefit of the local community and the general public. Lyme Art Association hosts a diverse schedule of juried art exhibitions with all works for sale by its Member Artists. This generous space, which is free and open to the public, is filled with seven annual exhibitions of works of some of the region’s finest representational artists.