Piccolo Spoleto Juried Art Exhibition

About the Exhibition

The festival’s annual Juried Art Exhibition highlights the recent work of artists across South Carolina featuring painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, and photography. Artworks receiving prizes are presented alongside a limited selection of pieces identified by a chosen juror. The 2026 juror is Michael Dickins, Director and Chief Curator at the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art at the College of Charleston. The 2026 exhibition runs concurrent with the Piccolo Spoleto Festival from May 22 through June 7, 2026. Invited artists for this year include: Anne Abueva, Elizabeth Agresta, Andrew Allen, Jacqueline Anderson, Mary Archambault, Robert Ariail, Sarah Bauer, Sean Berube, Debanjan Bhattacharjee, Carlos Bilal, Taylor Black, Harold Blackwood, Tyler Blanton, Christine Blyth, Eileen Blyth, Melissa Borland, Jack Bowden, Diane Bowers, Louise Britton, Alfred Casciato, Stephen Cefalo, JD Clark, Vito Cubelo, Michelle Davis, Nancy DeMore, Greta Dobe, John Duckworth, Morgan East, Meyriel Edge, Benjamin Egelson, Mahmood Fazal, Cara Fischer, Jennifer Foley, Ayanna Gadsden, Sean Gallegher, Lee Garrard, Rosemary Giusti Dillon, Sheila Grabarsky, Chris Harmon, CoCo Harris, Dolores Hayes-Lott, Karyn Healey, Casey Hebel, Jan Herda, Tina Hirsig, Kirsten Hoving, Claudia Interrante, Carla Johannesmeyer, James Johnson, Dan Jones, Danielle Jones, Mary Judge, Michelle Kaye, KELA, Ben Kelly, Kim LeDee, Tamala Leighfield, Jean Lomasto, Flavia Lovatelli, Elizabeth Macias, Robert Maniscalco, Hirona Matsuda, Ervin McDaniel, Marsha McDonald, Gina Moore, Jo-Ann Morgan, Anna Poliakoff, Becky Rickenbaker, Nicholas Rypkema, Rick Sargent, Michelle Seay, Sue Selvey, Pascale Sexton, Alvin Staley, Janet Swigler, Kim Thomas, Linda Thorndike Williams, Kenny Vaden, Christine Vargha, Norman Veit, Nathalie Watson, Carrie Wooden, Charles Wright, Jennifer York, Tatiana Zalapskaia, and Karl Zurflüh.

2026 Juried Art Winners

First: Hirona Matsuda, Sitting with Yourself

“In selecting Sitting with Yourself by Hirona Matsuda, I was drawn to how the work combines a strong visual presence with audience interaction. The piece stands on its own aesthetically, but it becomes something more when people choose to engage with it. Through participation, the work opens up in unexpected ways, inviting viewers to move beyond observation and into reflection, interaction, and self-awareness.” – Michael Dickins

Second: Alvin Staley, Born Behind the Eight Ball

“In selecting Born Behind the Eight Ball by Alvin Staley, I was drawn to the honesty and vulnerability at the center of the work. The painting depicts the artist, shirtless, holding an eight-ball and staring directly at the viewer, creating a quiet yet powerful sense of confrontation and openness. I was especially interested in how Staley positions himself between the eight ball and a locked door, suggesting themes of limitation, pressure, and resilience without overstating them.” – Michael Dickins

Third: Tyler Blanton, Rats Love

“In selecting Rats Love by Tyler Blanton, I was drawn to the work’s combination of scale, craftsmanship, and emotional warmth. Featuring two rats in a tender embrace, the piece transforms animals often associated with disgust or unease into something unexpectedly intimate and endearing. The energetic brushstrokes, expressive charcoal linework, and dripping acrylic washes create a strong sense of movement, while the softer color palette encourages viewers to focus on the warmth and connection between the figures.” – Michael Dickins

Michael Dickins, 2026 Juror

Michael Dickins is an interdisciplinary artist and the director and chief curator of the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art at the College of Charleston School of the Arts. Known for bold, thought-provoking work, Dickins has exhibited across the Southeastern U.S. and in cities such as Philadelphia, Denver, Seattle, Houston, Istanbul, and Berlin, with two appearances at {Re}Happening at Black Mountain College.

Over the past 15 years, he has developed innovative gallery programs, producing over 50 exhibitions and public art projects that bridge disciplines and spark meaningful conversations. His curatorial vision has been spotlighted at Atlanta Contemporary, the Emporium in Knoxville, the Jepson Center, and the Mid-South Sculpture Alliance, and his expertise has been sought by ARTSMemphis, SouthArts, ArtFields, apexart, AIRIE, and numerous collegiate exhibitions.

A graduate of Georgia Southern University (BFA) and Goddard College (MFA), Dickins is committed to art that challenges, engages, and connects communities—turning galleries into spaces of dialogue and discovery.

Contact

Anne Quattlebaum, City Gallery Manager
(843) 958-6484 or QuattlebaumA@charleston-sc.gov
or visit www.PiccoloSpoleto.com