The Medal of Honor is the Society’s highest award and is presented only as the occasion warrants, for notable achievement in and for encouragement to American Sculpture. The award consists of a certificate and a medal designed by Laura Gardin Fraser. Past recipients include Daniel Chester French (1929), Paul Manship (1942), Malvina Hoffman (1964), Neil Estern (2008), and most recently, Richard Blake (2023).

On September 21, 2024, the National Sculpture Society presented a living monument of generosity and leadership with the Medal. This man, Michel Langlais, is a sculptor, art collector, businessman, museum director, past president of the National Sculpture Society, and a true citizen of the art world.

Born in Paris, Michel has brought his passion for the arts to New York City, Miami, Los Angeles and San Salvador. Whether he’s curating his own collection or creating sculpture himself, Michel has always been driven by a singular goal: to bring beauty, culture, and generosity into our world. For the past decade, the National Sculpture Society has benefited from being at the center of Michel’s world.

Under Michel’s leadership, the National Sculpture Society has flourished. For ten years, he carved out time, energy, and resources to make sure that the organization had what it needed to thrive.
Michel has an innate ability to build connections. From the museums and galleries of New York to the Museum Marte in San Salvador, of which he is a founding member and current president, to the vibrant art scene in Miami, he’s bridged cultures and communities with the same ease and skill with which he sculpts. What’s even more impressive is, that before all of this, as a young man in Paris, he was a surgeon. Michel has lived several lives, all with enthusiasm and elegance.

NSS Treasurer, Bob Jewell, who worked closely with Michel says, “Michel has all the personal characteristics of an outstanding leader and the NSS has benefited from his vision and personal generosity of time and resources. Michel was the right leader at the right time for the NSS. Michel is a surgeon, artist, successful entrepreneur and all-around wonderful person. The NSS, its members, and the art world in general have been the recipients of his talent.”

The National Sculpture Society honors Michel Langlais for a decade of unwavering service as president – a role that required both a creative spirit, an astute sense of business, a sense of humor, and a patient heart.