Richard McDermott Miller Competition

The Richard McDermott Miller Competition will take place at the 2026 Sculpture Celebration. It will be held at Lyme Academy of Fine Arts in Old Lyme, CT on Saturday, May 16, 2026.

Each selected competitor will receive a Participation Scholarship (details below).

Objective: To successfully model a bust from life (from the neck up), working from a live model. Modeling will be done in front of an audience (sculptors, patrons, and others who are attending the Sculpture Celebration).

Eligibility: Sculptors must have been born between 1990-2005.

All applicants must be citizens of or residents in the United States with a social security number.

The first prize winner may not compete the following year, but is welcome to apply again thereafter.

Schedule:

4 hours of modeling with a one-hour break for lunch.

Submission Deadline: Friday, January 23, 2026

Selection: Up to 10 sculptors will be selected to compete.

Supplies: Modeling clay, modeling stands, spray bottles and materials to build armatures are supplied. However, competitors must supply personal sculpture tools.

Expenses: Each selected competitor will receive a Participation Scholarship valued at $1250, underwritten by the estate of Charlotte Geffken. The scholarships include:

      • Three night hotel stay
      • $250 travel stipend for competitors who live 50+ miles from Old Lyme, CT
      • Registration fee for the Sculpture Celebration events (May 15-16, 2026 in Old Lyme, CT)
      • Copy of Miller’s autobiography, Heading for New York: A Sculptor’s Journey
      • A one-year Associate membership with the National Sculpture Society

    Each competitor is responsible for travel, his/her own meals and daily expenses.

    Submission Materials:

    1. Images of six to twelve works of sculpture (please submit at least two views of sculpture for sculpture is in the round – a maximum of 36 images). Images should be in JPG (.jpg) format.

    2. A brief resume or statement about you and your work (under My Profile in Entry-Thingy)

    To submit: 

    Applications can be submitted through Entry-Thingy.

    NSS welcomes applications from all sculptors regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, socioeconomic status, education or disability.

    Jury of Selection: The jury will consist of three sculptors and/or curators.

    Awards Jury: Jurors will be looking for originality and talent, inspiration and personal interpretation – not just proficiency in replicating the model.

    Awards:

    Richard McDermott Miller Prize of $8,000

    Roger T. Williams Prize of $4,000

    Charlotte Geffken Award of $2,000

    Richard McDermott Miller (1922-2004), known as the Figure Sculptor of Soho, served as president of National Sculpture Society from 1997-2000.  He left a substantial bequest to the National Sculpture Society, the largest in its history. His legacy and the endowment he provided will continue to support education programs that promote excellence in sculpture in perpetuity.