Unleashing the Wolf

William King Museum of Art in Abingdon, Virginia is announcing Unleashing the Wolf, a triennial outdoor sculpture exhibition. Six custom works will be selected by two jurors and displayed on the museum campus for five years. The exhibition theme draws from Abingdon's wolf folklore heritage (the town is also known as "Wolf Hills"). All entries must fit this theme.

Each sculpture will be placed on a designated 8'x8' concrete pad on the museum grounds. All sculptures must be free-standing and resilient to outdoor elements for long-term public display. Artists must submit 1 to 5 images (minimum 300 dpi resolution) of their sculptural designs, along with a resume/CV, artist biography (no more than 500 words), and artist statement. The entry fee is $30 (non-refundable). Artists must be 18 years of age or older and are eligible to apply nationally.

Selected artists will receive a $3,000 stipend to purchase materials and execute their design. Artists will have one year to complete their sculptures, with completion required by March 1, 2026 and delivery to the museum by April 1, 2026. Shipping costs are covered by the museum via Crozier Art Shipping. All six sculptures will debut May 1-3, 2026 at the Virginia 250 History Festival, coinciding with the unveiling of the museum's new accessible sculpture garden. Sculptures will be on loan for five years (May 1, 2026 to May 1, 2029), after which they will be returned to the artists via Crozier Art Shipping. Jury notification will occur by March 1, 2025.