Mobile Arts Council Announces Winners of the 2026 Annual Members’ Show
Mobile, Ala. – The Mobile Arts Council is proud to announce the winners of its 2026 Annual Members’ Show, celebrating the exceptional talent and creativity of more than 80 local artists from across Mobile Bay Area. Awards were presented during LoDa ArtWalk on Friday, August 14, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at the Mobile Arts Council Gallery @ Room 1927.
The Annual Members’ Show is made possible through the generous support of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and Brenda Litchfield, whose sponsorship allows the Mobile Arts Council to recognize the outstanding talent and hard work of its artist members.
This year’s exhibition was juried by Kayla Dean, Administrative Specialist, and Lindsey Lawrence, Community Outreach Manager, both of the Eastern Shore Art Center.
Among the evening’s honors was the Dempsey & Litchfield Award, presented annually to an artist whose work best represents Mobile. The 2026 recipient is Gwenn Ainsworth for her photograph, Last Harbor, featuring the historic SS United States. Alongside the Members’ Choice Award voted on by active Mobile Arts Council Members, this year present to Patrick Hurley, for Revolve: Rise and Fall.
Two Honorable Mention awards were presented to:
- Nancy Goodman for Children’s Corner, a beautiful display of quilt work showcasing bold primary and secondary colors.
- Wayne McNeil for Short Parade, a poem, believed to be the first written work to receive recognition in the history of the Mobile Arts Council’s Annual Members’ Show.
The major award winners are:
- Third Place: Daniel Smith – Call Someone Who Cares
- Second Place: Frank Vogtner – I Am a Puzzle, II
- Best in Show (First Place): Elsa Payton – The Keeper
“The Annual Members’ Show is a celebration of the remarkable creativity and range of work that exists within our community,” said Angela Montgomery, Mobile Arts Council Executive Director. “We are grateful to the National Endowment for the Arts and Brenda Litchfield for their generous support, which not only makes this exhibition possible but also allows us to honor the dedication, talent, and artistic excellence of our members.”
The Mobile Arts Council extends its congratulations to all of this year’s award recipients and sincere appreciation to every artist who helped make the 2026 Annual Members’ Show a success.
For more information about the Mobile Arts Council and upcoming exhibitions, visit https://link.edgepilot.com/x/kCZ0o0XsaWq6WbT3gmiQBMc?u=http://www.mobilearts.org/ or follow @mobileartscouncil on social media.
ABOUT MOBILE ARTS COUNCIL
Mobile Arts Council is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 1955. Their mission is to enrich the quality of life in the Mobile area through increasing accessibility to the arts and promoting a vibrant cultural community. Projects of the Mobile Arts Council focus on serving three components: community, education, and membership. For more info: https://link.edgepilot.com/x/kCZ0o0XsaWq6WbT3gmiQBMc?u=http://www.mobilearts.org/.
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