National Sculpture Society is pleased to announce the 93rd Annual Awards Exhibition. The show opens at Brookgreen Gardens in Pawleys Island, SC on August 8. The juried show features the works of 43 contemporary sculptors and will be on view through October 25. The 15 prize winners from the show will then travel to New York City and the work will be displayed at the NSS Gallery in the 93rd Annual Award Winners Exhibition from November 16, 2026 to January 22, 2027.

The Annual Awards Exhibition is National Sculpture Society’s most popular show. Hundreds of artists apply to the juried competition which offers over eighteen-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 93^rd Annual Awards Exhibition include a coiled viper ready to strike; a young girl warrior; two lumbering bears making tracks on a snowy hillside; an apple eating pig; and a portrait of legendary guitarist Big Al Anderson. Dozens of figures, busts, and reliefs — encompassing an assortment of topics with a mixed use of materials — round out the 93rd Annual Awards Exhibition which promises something special for everyone.

Artists participating in the show are Bela Bácsi, FNSS; Serena Bates; Meredith Bergmann, FNSS (Juror); Jeremy Bradshaw, NSS; J. Clayton Bright; Manuelita Brown; Steven A. Carpenter, FNSS; Bob Clyatt; LeaAnn Cogswell, FNSS; Jennifer Cook, NSS; Lesa Cook; Morgan Dummitt, NSS; Thomas J. Durham, FNSS; Erik Ebeling, NSS; Steve Flom; Jim Green, NSS; Thomas Hill; Susannah Israel; Kristina Kossi; Lynn Weiler Liverton; Tracy Mahaffey; Walter Matia, FNSS; Janice Mauro, FNSS; Diana McClaran; Michael Messing; Angela Mia, FNSS; Evan Morse; Scott Myers, NSS; James Nelson; Joseph Noorigian; Gedion Nyanhongo; Chuong Pham; Paul Reiber; Sherry Rossini; Nomi Silverman; Andrey Sledkov, NSS; Karen Swenholt; John Tenney; Kathe Umlauf; David Valiente; Kathryn Vinson; Jeremiah D. Welsh, FNSS; and Eva-Maria Wohn, NSS.

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 43 works from the 266 entries received from artists around the world. The Jury of Selection included Meredith Bergmann, Fellow of NSS; Kate Clark, Sculptor and Educator; and Brian J. Lang, Director of Curatorial Affairs Academy Art Museum Easton, MD.

A Jury of Awards — to be determined — will convene after the show is installed at Brookgreen Gardens. The 93rd Annual Award winners will be announced at a closing reception on Saturday, October 24; 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.