92nd Annual Award Winners Announced

The Jury of Awards met at Brookgreen Gardens to decide the 16 prize recipients of National Sculpture Society’s 92nd Annual Awards Exhibition. The Jury of Awards is composed of at least two sculptors and a curator and this year included

Kevin Chambers, Fellow of National Sculpture Society
Susie Chisholm, Fellow of National Sculpture Society
Julia G. Baker, Curator, South Eastern Wildlife Expo (SEWE)–Charleston, SC (Charleston, SC).

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.”

The 16 prize winning sculptures will next travel to the NSS Gallery and be on view from November 17, 2025 through January 23, 2026. In February, the 16 prize-winning works will then travel to the Lyme Art Association and will be on exhibit February 27 – April 10.

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