Gibbes Museum Announces $10,000 Prize for Contemporary Southern Art

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CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Gibbes Museum of Art is pleased to announce the 2023 1858 Prize for Contemporary Southern Art. Each year, Society 1858, the museum’s young professionals auxiliary group, awards a $10,000 cash prize to one artist whose work demonstrates the highest level of artistic achievement in any media, while contributing to a new understanding of art in the South. Past winners include Raheleh Filsoofi (2022), Stephanie J. Woods (2021), Stephen L. Hayes (2020), Donté K. Hayes (2019), Leo Twiggs (2018), Bo Bartlett (2017), Alicia Henry (2016), Deborah Luster (2015), Sonya Clark (2014), John Westmark (2012), Patrick Dougherty (2011) and Radcliffe Bailey (2010). Submissions for 2023 will be accepted online at www.1858prize.org through Aug. 31, 2023.

“The Gibbes strives to celebrate diverse Southern artists through the 1858 Prize for Contemporary Southern Art,” says Angela Mack, executive director of Gibbes Museum of Art. “We are looking for innovative and thought-provoking artists and works that explore the complexities of the South today. We encourage artists from all backgrounds to submit their work, and we look forward to honoring another up-and-coming artist with this distinguished prize.”

Artists from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia are eligible to apply. All submissions are thoughtfully reviewed by a panel of visual arts professionals, Society 1858 representatives and Gibbes Museum of Art staff members. The winner will be awarded $10,000 and a feature at the Amy P. Coy Forum on Friday, February 9, 2024. In addition to the monetary award, artwork will be chosen by the Gibbes curatorial team, in collaboration with the artist, to display in the Mary Jackson Modern and Contemporary Galleries for the duration of the year following the winner’s announcement.

Artists Must Submit:
● Completed registration form
● Brief artist statement (150 words or less)
● Resume or CV
● Portfolio of work (up to 10 images) including title, date, medium, and dimensions for each work
● $25 non-refundable entry fee

Submissions can be made at www.1858prize.org. For general questions about the 1858 Prize, please contact the Gibbes Museum of Art at 1858prize@gibbesmuseum.org. For technical support while submitting your application, please contact SlideRoom at support@slideroom.com.

The winner will be announced in October 2023 on the 1858 Prize website and via press release. For high-res images, visit https://spaces.hightail.com/space/thyoiCr4ZM.

About Society 1858
The 1858 Prize for Contemporary Southern Art is presented by Society 1858, a member auxiliary group of the Gibbes Museum of Art. This group of dynamic young professionals supports the Gibbes Museum with social and educational programs tailored for up-and-coming art patrons. To learn more about membership in Society 1858, please visit https://www.gibbesmuseum.org/become-a-member/#society-1858.

About the Gibbes Museum of Art
Home to the Carolina Art Association, established in 1858, the Gibbes Museum of Art is recognized among the oldest arts organizations in the United States. Housing one of the foremost collections of American Art from the 18th century to the present, the museum’s mission is to enhance lives through art by engaging people of every background and experience with art and artists of enduring quality and by providing opportunities to learn, to discover, to enjoy and to be inspired by the creative process. For more information, visit www.gibbesmuseum.org.