American Sports Art Museum and Archives
Sport Artist of the Year
The Sport Artist of the Year Award is presented to an individual who captures the spirit and life of sport so that future generations can relive the drama of today’s competition. The recipient may use a variety of art media to depict the breadth and scope of both the agony and the ecstasy of sport.
To nominate an artist to recive the 2026 award, please fill out the form below by July 1, 2026.
Previous Recipients
2025
Gary Blevins, Springfield, OH
Painter
2024
Richard Sullivan, Louisville, KY
Painter
2023
Steve Skipper, Homewood, AL
Painter
2022
James Peterson, Milwaukee, WI
Painter
2021
Brian Fox
Painter
Sergey Eylanbekov
Sculptor
- 2020
- Not awarded due to COVID-19
2019- Lou Cella
Sculptor - 2017
-
William “Bill” Williams
PainterRichard Watkins
Sculptor - 2016
- Gregory Burns
- Painter
- Steven Whyte
- Sculptor
- 2015
- Joseph Sheppard, Award Winning Painter and Sculptor
- 2014
- Gail Folwell, American Sculptor
- Miriam Cabello, Australian Painter
- 2013
- Edward Eyth, American Sculptor
- Charles Billich, Australian Painter
- 2012
- Primo Angeli, American Graphic Artist
- Martin Linson, American Sculptor
- 2011
- Ferenc Németh, Hungarian Sculptor
- 2010
- Rick Rush, painter, Tuscaloosa, AL
- Harry Weber, sculptor, St. Louis, MO
- 2009
- TAFA, painter, Ghana & New York
- 2008
- Bruce Larsen, sculptor, Fairhope, AL
- Kadir Nelson, painter, San Diego, CA
- 2007
- Gu Gan, calligrapher, Beijing, China
- Xikun Yuan, sculptor, Beijing, China
- 2006
- LeRoy Neiman, painter, New York City, NY
- 2005
- Opie Otterstad, painter, Austin, TX
- 2004
- Daniel Moore, painter, Birmingham, AL
- 2003
- Ernie Barnes, painter, Los Angeles, CA
- Sergey Eylanbekov, sculptor, Russia & NY
- 2002
- Armand Arman, sculptor, France & New York
- Roald Bradstock, painter, England
- 2001
- Mina Papatheodorou-Valyraki, painter, Athens, Greece
- 2000
- Daniel You, painter, Paris, France
- Richard MacDonald, sculptor, Monterey, CA
- 1999
- Charles Billich, painter, Croatia & Australia
- 1998
- Aldo Luongo, painter, Argentina & CA
- 1997
- James Rizzi, painter, Brooklyn, NY
- 1996
- Paul Goodnight, painter, Boston, MA
- 1995
- Dr. Liston Bochette, III, painter, Fort Myers, FL
- 1994
- Murray Tinkelman, illustrator, NY
- 1993
- Robert Riger, illustrator, New York, NY
- 1992
- Stephen Holland, painter, Santa Barbara, CA
- 1991
- Cristóbal Gabarrón, painter, Valladolid, Spain
- 1990
- Bernie Fuchs, painter, West Port, CT
- 1989
- Blair Buswell, sculptor, Salt Lake City, UT
- 1988
- James Ridlon, sculptor, Cazenovia, NY
- 1987
- Hans Erni, painter, Lucerne, Switzerland
- John Robinson, sculptor, North Cadbury, United Kingdom
- 1986
- Sheila Wolk, painter, New York, NY
- 1985
- Bart Forbes, painter, Dallas, TX
- 1984
- Donald Moss, painter, Ridgefield, CT
- 1983
- Ernie Barnes, painter, Los Angeles, CA
Steven Lester, Atlanta, GA
Painter
2018
Graig Kreindler
Painter
