Gwen Pier, executive director of the National Sculpture Society (NSS), is the recipient of the 2026 Saint-Gaudens Medal. The medal is “awarded from time to time to individuals whose talents, vision and leadership have made significant contributions to the arts in the high tradition of Augustus Saint-Gaudens.” In her 38 years at the helm of the NSS, Pier has been committed to the growth and development of figurative sculpture, public art and preservation.
Congratulations on being selected as this year’s Saint-Gaudens Medal honoree. What does this recognition mean to you?
The award was unexpected and means a great deal to me, particularly because it is an acknowledgement by colleagues and other professionals in the field who serve on the board of the Saint-Gaudens Memorial. We all spend so much of our lives furthering the missions of the organizations we champion and work with. To be recognized by curators, executive directors and patrons in the field who truly understand this — and have lived it — is special.
Furthermore, Augustus Saint-Gaudens was a founding member of the NSS whose artistic vision and commitment to excellence helped define American art. Honestly, it is humbling to receive a medal bearing his name. I am profoundly grateful to the Memorial, its trustees and to Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park for preserving not only the studio and grounds, but also Saint-Gaudens’ spirit of creativity and mentorship.
While the National Sculpture Society (NSS) and the Saint-Gaudens Memorial (SGM) are distinctly separate organizations, our missions are not dissimilar. Both are nonprofit organizations that encourage the appreciation of the arts, and particularly sculpture, though public engagement. I truly appreciate all the SGM has done and is doing.
I do have to ask — do you have a favorite Agustus Saint-Gaudens work?
Hmmm…there are so many! I can’t think of one I don’t love. I’m partial to his public monuments because they have such a broad impact and are exquisitely designed and executed. The Farragut Monument in Madison Square Park (New York City) has a special place in my heart, in part because my office was located across the street from it when I first moved to New York City, so I got to know it well. I also believe it is one of the great examples of a collaboration between sculptor and architect — Stanford White designed the base, which is stunning. (Stanford White was also a member of the NSS.) The Shaw Memorial (Boston) and the Adams Memorial (Washington, DC) are both powerful, moving works. And some of the more intimate bas-relief portraits he created remain among my favorite works of all time; he set the bar high for any sculptor trying their hand at bas-relief.
What are some of the most memorable moments from your time with the NSS?
The best memories I take away from the many years I’ve been with the NSS are of events and experiences shared with so many of the wonderful sculptors and colleagues that I’ve come to know. It was a great learning experience and a lot of fun.
In what ways has the NSS — and American sculpture itself — grown or changed in the nearly 40 years you’ve been involved with the organization?
When I began my tenure at the National Sculpture Society, figurative sculpture in America was facing a period of uncertainty. The representational tradition that Saint-Gaudens championed seemed, to some, out of step with contemporary trends. Yet, sculptors I met — passionate, determined and immensely talented — convinced me that figurative sculpture still had a vital story to tell.
I was 28 years old when I started working at NSS, with a lot to learn. I had to learn quickly because NSS was in a precarious financial position that prohibited program expansion. Friend raising and fundraising eventually led to a larger endowment and ultimately to more grants, residencies, scholarships and other programs serving a broader group of sculptors. We started hosting additional sculpture exhibitions, both in New York City and across the country. These exhibitions were well attended; the public response to good representational work was strong.
Conversations we are having today — about representation, diversity, accessibility and the role of sculpture in civic life — echo Saint-Gaudens’ own concerns more than a century ago. He believed that art must belong to everyone, and that belief remains our compass.
Gwen’s first NSS Awards Dinner at the National Arts Club, New York City, on May 10, 1988.
Some of the other organizations you work with include the Fine Arts Federation of New York, the National Women’s Suffrage National Monument and the Broadway Mall Association. In what ways do these roles influence your daily work with the NSS?
Being involved as a volunteer on other boards or in an advisory role helps keep me connected with the broader community of artists and professionals that support artists. There are a lot of terrific people out there in the arts community, working for the collective greater good. It’s inspiring and very gratifying to work with others on a project that can have a positive impact on a community.
Are there any exciting projects coming up with the NSS that should be on our radar?
Always! This year NSS is hosting its annual Sculpture Celebration in Old Lyme, Conn., in May. We will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts (founded by NSS fellow Elisabeth Gordon Chandler) and hosting a range of educational and exciting activities and programs over two days. It is a great opportunity to meet sculptors, curators, collectors and art lovers in attendance from all over the country. It’s a bit like a big family reunion, but with friends and colleagues.
How can folks learn more about what the NSS does, including competitions, grants, awards, exhibitions and publications?
The easiest way to learn more about the NSS is on our website, www.nationalsculpture.org. We also welcome calls and visitors; our offices and gallery are located in Midtown Manhattan.
The award announcement mentioned an upcoming retirement… What kind of adventures do you have planned for the next chapter?
Too many to name here — but travel, some consulting and more time with family and friends are very high on the “to-do” list. I am very excited about the next chapter and just hope I live long enough to get through a fraction of all that I want to do!
—Carly Timpson
