May 18 – July 27, 2013  Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa, FL

August 17 – October 27, 2013  Brookgreen Gardens, Pawleys Island, SC

The National Sculpture Society (NSS) is pleased to present its 80th Annual Awards Exhibition showing exclusively at Tampa Museum of Art in Florida and Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina. Opening on Saturday, May 18, in Tampa, the juried show features the figurative works of 48 contemporary sculptors. The show will then travel to Brookgreen Gardens in Pawleys Island where it will be on view until October 27.

The Annual Awards Exhibition is National Sculpture Society’s most popular show. Hundreds of artists apply to the juried competition which offers thousands of dollars in cash prizes. The sculpture on display ranges from classical to contemporary, and is composed of portrait busts, bas-reliefs and figures ranging in all sizes and dimensions. Highlights of the show include a maquette of Washington, DC’s recently installed Rosa Parks sculpture; an ice cream sundae bursting with confection; a futuristic samurai wielding a lightning bolt saber; and men and women of different shapes and sizes captured in moments of every day ritual, athletic prowess, or reflective thought.  The variety of subject matter and media exhibited represents the diverse styles, backgrounds and disciplines of NSS members. Fellows (FNSS), Elected Members (NSS), and Associates make up the levels of sculptor membership of the organization, which is international in scope and appeal. National Sculpture Society and its members are dedicated to promoting excellence in art that is inspired by nature.

A Jury of Selection, comprised of two NSS Members and one curator, chose 46 works from the 219 entries. This year’s Jury of Selection included Lee Hutt, FNSS; Tuck Langland, FNSS; and Todd Smith, Executive Director of the Tampa Museum of Art (Tampa, FL). Sculptors featured in the exhibition are:  Mark Edward Adams; Tucker Bailey; Andrea Blasich; Joe Boddy; Kate Brockman, NSS; Fred X Brownstein, FNSS; Lewis Bryden; Blair Buswell, FNSS; Rick Casali;  LeaAnn Cogswell; Eugene Daub, FNSS; Darrell Davis, NSS; Deon Duncan; Clay Enoch, NSS; Zenos Frudakis, FNSS; Don Gale, FNSS; Martin Gates, NSS; Bob Guelich, FNSS; Ben Hammond, NSS; Gregory Johnson; Joshua Koffman; Simon Kogan, FNSS; George Lundeen, FNSS; Richard MacDonald, FNSS; Julie McCraney-Brogdon; Paul Moore, FNSS; Gary Mulnix; Daniel A.  Myers, III; Dora Natella, NSS; John Pack; Alex Palkovich, NSS; Mardie Rees; Bruce Ricci;  Helene Roberts; Rosetta, FNSS; Wayne Salge, NSS; Adam Schultz; Daniel Sinclair, NSS; Christopher Smith, FNSS; Katherine Stanek; John Strawbridge; Kristine Taylor; Shirley Thomson-Smith, FNSS; Kent Ullberg, FNSS; Nina Winters; and Susan Zurles. A separate Jury of Awards will convene after the show is installed to select the prize winners.

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.

The Tampa Museum of Art opened its new award-winning home in 2010 with a commitment to providing innovative public programs with a strong focus on modern and contemporary art.  The Museum balances a growing collection with a dynamic annual schedule of special exhibitions.  It is the region’s largest museum devoted to art of our time and has built a reputation for embracing contemporary photography and new media. Since its founding in 1979, the Museum has been dedicated to providing quality education to students and adults, with more than half of its programs offered free of charge.

Brookgreen Gardens was founded by Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington in 1931 and today is a National Historic Landmark and a garden museum with the most extensive collection of figurative sculpture in an outdoor setting by American artists in the world.  In addition to the gardens, Brookgreen offers year-round courses and workshops to sculptors as well as programs and tours for visitors of all ages and interests.