The National Sculpture Society (NSS) is pleased to present Shaping Space: New Fellows of NSS. The exhibition features 15 works by 15 newly elected Fellows of the Society and will be on view from August 3 through September 18, 2026 in the NSS gallery in Midtown Manhattan.

Founded in 1893, the National Sculpture Society is dedicated to advancing the art of sculpture and supporting sculptors through advocacy, education, and professional development. Its founding members included renowned artists Daniel Chester French, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, and Anna Hyatt Huntington. Today, the NSS continues its mission as a nonprofit organization, promoting excellence in sculpture through exhibitions, educational programs, scholarships, and grants.

The path to becoming a Fellow of the National Sculpture Society begins with election to Elected Membership. Artists submit images of their work for review by the Society’s voting membership, and, upon acceptance, become active participants in the organization. Elected Members may serve on committees and juries, vote on Society matters, and contribute to the ongoing growth and leadership of the nation’s oldest professional organization dedicated to sculpture.

After a period of active involvement, Elected Members may be nominated by their peers for advancement to Fellow Membership. Fellow is the Society’s highest level of membership, recognizing distinguished achievement and service to the field. Fellows are entitled to use the designation “FNSS” after their name.

The exhibition features work by Richard Becker, Peter Brooke, Ernest Caballero, Craig Campbell, Steven Carpenter, Kevin Chambers, Mick Doellinger, Jacquelyn Giuffré, Edward Hlavka, Adam Matano, George McMonigle, Steff Rocknak, Ken Rowe, Jeremiah D. Welsh, and Steven Whyte.

NSS Fellow Mick Doellinger — a German national, raised in Australia, and a U.S. citizen since 2004 — operates out of his studio in Fort Worth, TX. Throughout his world travels, it has been the indigenous creatures of these various locales that have captivated him the most. His portfolio includes portraits of bison, rhinos, ostriches, bulls and moose.  For his inaugural exhibition as an NSS Fellow, Doellinger chose a small bronze of a Jack Rabbit quietly grooming himself. “Jack Rabbits are often thought of as ‘just another rabbit,’ but when you get a chance to really observe a Hare during quiet moments, their differences are significant,” says Doellinger. “Particularly in their summer coat, a Jack Rabbit’s athletic physique, long lean legs, and exaggerated ears are unmistakable – giving them a more elegant appearance in comparison to the rounded look of rabbits.”

NSS Fellow Steff Rocknak is a self-taught sculptor and received her Ph.D. in Philosophy from Boston University in 1998. She specializes in David Hume and the philosophy of art and currently serves as Chair and Professor of Philosophy at Hartwick College in central New York. Although primarily a wood carver, Rocknak does work in bronze and her notable commissions include Poe Returning to Boston in Boston, MA and her soon-to-be installed, Melville and Jonah’s Journey for New Bedford, MA. In showcasing her skills as a carver, Rocknak chose her Basswood piece, Kneeling Study, that perfectly illustrates her process. “In this piece, I was interested in how a kneeling figure can shift between vulnerability, endurance and refusal through subtle changes in torso and head,” begins Rocknak. “In the studio, I work through repeated adjustments of balance, silhouette, and negative space, letting each small change alter the emotional register of the form. The process is slow and iterative, moving between looking and revising, until the body settles into a state that feels both grounded and slightly unsettled, where physical stability and psychological tension remain in productive balance.”

NSS Fellow Steven Whyte is a British-American figurative sculptor known for his classically inspired public monuments and portraiture. Whyte is a former vice president of the Royal Society of Portrait Sculptors and has created more than 80 life-size or larger public bronze figures installed globally. For his first exhibition as an NSS Fellow, the Carmel, CA, artist chose an intimate bronze portrait of a woman titled Jenny, which harkens back to his early beginnings as an artist. “Jenny is a classic nude study. While much of my work focuses on large scale public commissions, there is elegance and comfort in returning to the fundamentals. This is a deceptively simple design; the sparse composition requires each element be rendered with the utmost attention.”

The 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. National Sculpture Society is dedicated to promoting excellence in sculpture that is inspired by nature.