The 2026 Piccolo Spoleto Juried Art Exhibition
Piccolo Spoleto, established in 1979 by the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs, is the official sister celebration of Spoleto Festival USA. The festival annually presents a program of local excellence that includes visual arts exhibitions, classical music, jazz, dance, theater and choral music performances; cultural events, community celebrations, poetry readings, children’s activities, craft shows and film screenings.
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 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.
About the 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.
