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Southern artists have a new opportunity to compete for one of the region’s leading contemporary art prizes.
Artists working across all media have until September 14 to apply for the Society 1858 Prize for Contemporary Southern Art, presented by the Gibbes Museum of Art and Society 1858.
Now in its 18th year, the competition awards $10,000 to one winning artist, along with an opportunity that could provide significant exposure: the winner’s artwork will be exhibited at the Gibbes for an entire year.
The winner will also be invited to Charleston in February 2027 for a three-day celebration that will include the official unveiling of the artwork, the annual Society 1858 Winter Party and the Amy P. Coy Forum, where the artist will be invited to discuss their work at the museum.
Click HERE to apply.
Who Can Apply?
The competition has expanded its geographic eligibility. Maryland and Texas have been added, bringing the total to 14 Southern states:
Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.
Artists currently living or working in one of those states are eligible. Artists living elsewhere may also apply if they are originally from one of the eligible Southern states.
More than 350 artists applied last year, underscoring the competition’s growing profile among contemporary artists throughout the South.
A Prize With a Track Record
The Society 1858 Prize was established in 2008 to recognize outstanding contemporary artists connected to the American South. Previous winners have gone on to receive major honors and fellowships, including recognition from the Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, Joan Mitchell Foundation, United States Artists and Pollock-Krasner Foundation.
Works by past winners have also entered the permanent collections of institutions including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Gallery of Art and the Art Institute of Chicago.
The Gibbes has likewise acquired works by several Prize winners and finalists for its own permanent collection.
Meet the 2025 Winner
The 2025 Society 1858 Prize went to Kandy G. Lopez, an Afro-Caribbean American multidisciplinary artist from Florida whose work explores cultural identity, representation and power through fiber, painting, glass and mixed media.
Following her prize win, Lopez presented her first international solo exhibition at the Florence Foundation in Paris and her second New York gallery solo exhibition at ACA Galleries. Her work has also been exhibited at institutions including the Armory Art Center, Ringling College of Art + Design and the North Dakota Museum of Art.
The Gibbes recently acquired Lopez’s Hispaniola III – Mia and Kenya for its permanent collection.
Supporting the South’s Creative Future
The Prize reflects the Gibbes’ longstanding commitment to contemporary Southern artists. Society 1858, the museum’s young professionals auxiliary group, raises funds that support the competition as well as exhibition and educational initiatives at the museum.
For artists, the opportunity goes beyond the $10,000 award. A year-long museum exhibition, national exposure and a celebration in Charleston offer the winner an important platform for advancing their career.
The final application deadline is September 14.
Artists can review eligibility requirements and submit their work through the official competition resources:
Gibbes Museum — Society 1858 Prize
Eligible artists are encouraged to review the official application requirements and submit through the Gibbes Museum’s designated application portal before the September 14 deadline.
Click HERE to apply.
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