Entry Type

Open to all

Location

London, UK

About the prize

The Gilbert Bayes Award for early career sculptors is a prestigious prize which supports the transition to professional practice and raises industry profile. 

Award winners receive a year’s worth of professional development (including talks from guest speakers working in commercial galleries, art charities and private collections), a free year's membership of the Royal Society of Sculptors and inclusion in a group exhibition. Award recipients will also have the chance to apply for member-only opportunities as well as a residency based at Benson Sedgwick Engineering Ltd, a metal fabricator in East London.

The guest judge for the Gilbert Bayes Award 2024 is Freeny Yianni is a curator and owner of CLOSE Gallery in Somerset that represents the Estates of Jane Harris and Turner Prize winner Grenville Davey as well as a rostrum of carefully selected artists who have propelled the gallery to its current international status.

The guest judges for the Gilbert Bayes Award 2024 are Clemency Cooke and Charlotte Latham, founders of Cooke Latham Gallery that launched in December 2018 in a 19th Century warehouse in Battersea, London. 

The guest judge for the Gilbert Bayes Award 2023 was Harry Yeff (Reeps100), a London born artist, founder and technologist.

Applications for the GBA programme 2026 are expected to open in September 2025. You may like to subscribe to our newsletter Shape & Form to be notified when applications open.

Entry Process

Applications are welcomed from early career artists of any age and nationality, with or without formal training, though not in formal education. All styles of media are considered, including installation, site specific, performance, conceptual and video work. A minimum of four years exhibiting experience is expected. Applicants, based in the UK and internationally, must be committed to embracing all aspects of the Award and actively participate in all Award events. Artists who have been elected to be members of the Society are not eligible to apply.

Please note that the Society is unable to contribute financially towards artist expenses, travel costs or any costs associated with the group show exhibition.

Applications for the GBA programme 2025 are now closed. Applications for the GBA programme 2026 are expected to open in September 2025. You may like to subscribe to our newsletter Shape & Form to be notified when applications open.

Hear from GBA alumni about their experience

Polam Chan MRSS (GBA Winner 2023)

Watch Polam MRSS, who joined the Royal Society of Sculptors in 2023 as part of the Gilbert Bayes Award, talk about his experience and why he recommends emerging artists to apply.

Srabani Ghosh MRSS (GBA Winner 2023)

Watch Srabani Ghosh MRSS, who joined the Royal Society of Sculptors in 2023 as part of the Gilbert Bayes Award, talk about her experience and why she recommends emerging artists to apply.

Current Winners

Chris Thompson
Chris Thompson
Elinor Haynes - REVIVICOR (a life without end)
Elinor Haynes
Euphrosyne Andrews
Euphrosyne Andrews
Hall of Mirrors by Jack Evans
Jack Evans
Exhibit B - Square by Kishwar Kiani
Kishwar Kiani
Corridor Installation Laura Hills
Laura Hills
Laura Ni Fhlaibhin
Laura Ni Fhlaibhin
Maria Positano
Maria Positano
Melania Toma
Melania Toma

Past Winners



2023


Image of Swell by Alexandra Searle
Alexandra Searle
You There by Alice Sheppard Fidler
Alice Sheppard Fidler
Untitled/ Stairs by Erika Trotzig
Erika Trotzig
Join Us by Flora Bradwell, installation with moving sculpture and sound
Flora Bradwell
Pollinator Sanctuary by Kelly Marie O'Brien
Kelly Marie O'Brien
Job Lot by Louise Ward Morris
Louise Ward Morris
Extrusive Thoughts by Nathan Anthony Morris
Nathan Anthony
3 fans by Ned Prizeman
Ned Prizeman
Fence 4 - Get off your chest
Polam Chan
Power stance by Sophie Cunningham
Sophie Cunningham
Bowing in the Wind/ Gwendolen by Srabani Ghosh
Srabani Ghosh


2022


Catriona Robertson - Burrow Sprout Grow, 2021
Catriona Robertson
Emily Woolley - Protean (A Retracing), 2019
Emily Woolley
Iwona Rozbiewska,  Refreshing rules, 2017
Iwona Rozbiewska
Lewis Davidson, Tags, 2015-2021
Lewis Davidson
Louisa Johnson
Louisa Johnson
Rosalie Wammes, Reclaim Magic
Rosalie Wammes
Sasha Tishkov,
Sasha Tishkov
Veronika Neukirch Void-scaping – Mid-air splits, 2021
Veronika Neukirch
Yambe Tam, Cosmic Garden, 2021
Yambe Tam
Zara Ramsey
Zara Ramsay


2021


Amba Sayal-Bennett
Amba Sayal-Bennett
Anna Perach
Anna Perach
Camilla Hanney
Camilla Hanney
David Cooper
David Cooper
 Johanna Bolton
Johanna Bolton MRSS
Kate McDonnell
Kate McDonnell MRSS
Marco Bizzarri
Marco Bizzarri
Olga Golos
Olga Golos MRSS
Shinuk Suh
Shinuk Suh
Sophia Ruppert
Sophia Ruppert


2020


Retreat
Chen Winner
Two Empty Postures
Emily Motto
Third Breath (2018)
Eugene Macki MRSS
Net:Camouflage
Jessica Wetherly
Bloom
Katharina Fitz
Day Dreamer (2019)
Mitch Vowles
Sally Hackett
Sally Hackett
Consider Falling
Sarah Howe
Stately Gazebo
Sasha Bowles MRSS
Muamba Grove
Vanessa da Silva


2019


Broken Shields
Amale Freiha Khlat MRSS
Matter in Flux
Fiona Campbell MRSS
Interior Deduction
Hanqing & Mona MRSS
Force Majeur
Jack West
Cloud Catcher
Karolin Schwab
Tall Tales, Tall Tails (detail)
Miriam Naeh
Harness Sculpture (detail)
Nancy Allen
Get In
Rosie McGinn
Radiator
Sam Baker MRSS
Nailed It!
William Braithwaite MRSS


2017


Andrea V Wright
Andrea V Wright MRSS
Fabrice le Nezet
Fabrice le Nezet
Harrison Pearce
Harrison Pearce
Lauren Wilson
Lauren Wilson
Marco Miehling
Marco Miehling
Rodrigo Red Sandoval
Rodrigo Red Sandoval


2016


Alice Al Khatib
Alice Al Khatib
Eva Masterman
Eva Masterman
Evy Jokhova
Evy Jokhova
Magali Hebert Huot
Magali Hebert Huot
Matt Picon
Matt Picon
Melissa Pierce Murray
Melissa Pierce Murray MRSS
Saelia Aparicio
Saelia Aparicio
Stuart Calvin
Stuart Calvin
Susie Olczak
Susie Olczak MRSS
William Darrell
William Darrell


2015


Alex Duncan
Alex Duncan
Helen Pailing
Helen Pailing
Kyveli Anastasiadi
Kyveli Anastasiadi
Liz West
Liz West
Nu Li
Nu Li
Rosana Antoli
Rosana Antoli
Sebastian Kite
Sebastian Kite
Tim Sandys
Tim Sandys
Ting Tong Chang
Ting Tong Chang
Tsuyoshi Anzai
Tsuyoshi Anzai


2014


A room of one's own Ana Catarina Pereira
Ana Catarina Pereira
The Attempted Castration of Tomassoni Beatrice Haines
Beatrice Haines MRSS
Wife's Tail Emma Hunter
Emma Hunter
Gillian Duffy
Gillian Duffy
I can't stop the dancing chicken Gloria Zein
Gloria Zein
Hollie Mackenzie
Hollie Mackenzie
Marguerite Humeau
Marguerite Humeau
Neil Ayling
Neil Ayling
Love Chairs Sam Adams
Sam Adams
Virgile Ittah
Virgile Ittah


2013


Demeters Pods Adeline de Monseignat
Adeline de Monseignat MRSS
Sow Dorcas Casey
Dorcas Casey MRSS
Jiho Won
Jiho Won
Liquid Landscape II Joe Drakeford
Joe Drakeford
Lisa Selby
Lisa Selby
Angel Mio Lucy Tomlins
Lucy Tomlins
Martin Cordiano
Martin Cordiano
Matt Moser-Clark
Matt Moser-Clark
Carnal Corporeality Ruth Brenner
Ruth Brenner MRSS
Shan Hur
Shan Hur


2012


David Turley
David Turley
Untitled James Irwin
James Irwin
Unfold Janne Malmros
Janne Malmros MRSS
Reconfigured Slumps Katie McGown
Katie McGown
Time of the Fox Miles Painter
Myles Painter
Histories of Deception Nika Neelova
Nika Neelova
Starboard Pablo de Laborde Lascaris
Pablo de Laborde Lascaris MRSS
Dis-ingenious Rebecca Griffiths
Rebecca Griffiths
Saad Qureshi
Saad Qureshi
Deux Chevaux William Mackrell
William Mackrell


2011


Driftwood Alex Chinneck
Alex Chinneck MRSS
Eric Schumacher
Eric Schumacher
Untitled Hannah Wiles
Hannah Wiles
Flowpath James Balmforth
James Balmforth
Rhizome Julia Mallle
Julia Malle MRSS
Listening in the Lull Kate McLeod
Kate McLeod MRSS
Another Level Kate Surridge
Kate Surridge