A Southern Canvas: The Gibbes Museum Extends Entry Deadline for the 2025 1858 Prize for Contemporary Southern Art
A Legacy of Artistic Innovation Continues in Charleston
The Gibbes Museum of Art, a cornerstone of culture in Charleston since 1858, has officially extended the deadline for its prestigious annual art competition—the 1858 Prize for Contemporary Southern Art. Now open for submissions through September 7, 2025, the prize invites artists who live, work in, or originate from the American South to present works that reshape perceptions of Southern identity through contemporary art.
More than a generous $10,000 prize, the award includes a yearlong exhibition of the winner’s work within the museum’s galleries and an invitation to participate in a celebratory three-day program in Charleston. This exclusive itinerary includes an official unveiling of the winning piece, a talk during the Amy P. Coy Forum, and Society 1858’s coveted Winter Party—a highlight of the city’s cultural calendar.
Elevating Contemporary Southern Art
Organized by Society 1858, the museum’s young patrons auxiliary group, the annual award recognizes artists who challenge and expand definitions of the South through their chosen medium. The 1858 Prize welcomes submissions across all artistic disciplines, from multimedia installations and sculpture to painting, photography, and conceptual work.
“Year in and out, the prestigious 1858 Prize for Contemporary Southern Art stands as a testament to, and celebration of, the amazing talents of artists living and working in the American South,” said Dr. H. Alexander Rich, President and CEO of the Gibbes Museum of Art.
“2025’s 1858 Prize candidates promise to posit new and eye-opening ways to reflect upon our individual and collective worlds — and we cannot wait to be in awe once again of our region’s incredible artistic talent.”
Dr. H. Alexander Rich, President and CEO of the Gibbes Museum of Art
More Than a Prize: A Platform for Influence
Beyond the monetary award and museum exhibition, the 1858 Prize has emerged as a launchpad for broader acclaim. Past recipients have gone on to receive prestigious honors from institutions such as the Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, Joan Mitchell Fellowship, and the Pollock-Krasner Foundation. Their work has entered the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, National Gallery of Art, and the Art Institute of Chicago, among others.
Since its inception in 2008, the Prize has continued to spotlight voices shaping the contemporary Southern narrative. Winners have included artists such as:
Demond Melancon (2024), known for his intricate beadwork on canvas, including Hatsheput
Sherrill Roland (2023), whose conceptual art centers themes of justice and memory
Raheleh Filsoofi (2022), recognized for her multimedia installation Imagined Boundaries
Donté K. Hayes (2019), whose ceramic forms explore ritual and transformation
Bo Bartlett (2017), for evocative realist paintings such as Hurtsboro
Who Can Apply and How
Artists are eligible if they are from, living in, or working in one of the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Applications are accepted exclusively online through the 1858 Prize for Contemporary Southern Art application portal. The process is hosted through SlideRoom, and complete eligibility requirements and FAQs are readily available here.