The National Sculpture Society awards the 2026 Dexter Jones Award to Dylan Silva. The $5,000 Grant is presented for an outstanding work of sculpture in bas-relief. Sculptors Eva-Maria Wohn, Marc Mellon and Stephen Perkins served as this year’s jurors.

Dylan Silva is a sculptor, architectural terra cotta specialist, mold maker and ceramist. He currently works with Gladding, McBean & Co and has founded Silva Studio LLC to further the craft of ornament in architecture. His projects include Louis Sullivan’s Bayard Building, the Flatiron Building, Chatsworth Apartments, Borough Hall Subway Station, Richmond Terrace Family Court, and the Emmet Building in New York, NY, as well as the Pabst Mansion in Milwaukee, WI, among others.

Wohn says, “Dylan’s beautifully executed body of work showcases excellent technical skill and masterful appreciation for traditional architectural forms. It is a testament to the enduring power of classic relief sculpture and dedicated craftsmanship.”

“In an era of visual sparsity, Dylan Silva’s work flies completely in the face of that aesthetic. I miss ornamental detail, the richness and beauty that it creates on a wall, an entryway or a doorknob. Dylan’s work is courageous for bucking that trend. Beauty is back and I heartily applaud his efforts in that direction.

“Dylan’s ornament work comes from different influences, Ionic Greek to Louis Sullivan. The Sullivanesque work reminds me of the old terra cotta cladding that added richness and beauty to a blank surface. Simply put, the world needs more of what he offers. It ennobles the soul, enriches it, and gratifies the constant joy that people take in what is known as beauty. The work is beautifully done,” says Perkins.

Dexter Jones, FNSS (1926-1986) was an accomplished sculptor who created outstanding portraits and bas-reliefs. Named in his honor, the annual award was established through a generous donation from Dr. Roshen Irani and will be given in perpetuity.