LONDON.- The Society of Portrait Sculptors’ (SPS) has announced the winning artists of its prizes for excellence, including the £5000 Sedlecka Award for the Best Three-Dimensional Human Portrait, at the FACE 2026 exhibition, which shines a spotlight on three distinct categories of sculpture: portrait, figure and relief.
This year’s exhibition features over 100 remarkable works, made by sculptors working across the UK and internationally, including Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa and Australia.
Jethro Crabb scooped the 2026 Sedlecka Award and £5,000 for the best 3-D human portrait with his remarkable bronze portrait of a young Enzo Ferrari (1898-1988), founder of the iconic Italian car marque and Formula One team.
The Society Award (£1,000) was presented to Albert Kozak for From Grottger’s Watercolour. Carved in wood, this arresting portrait of a young man is based on a watercolour by one of the most important Polish artists of the Romantic period, Artur Grottger (1837-1867). Kozak’s piece successfully captures the subtlety of the original watercolour in pale wood.
The Tiranti Prize (£500), for the best exhibit by a portrait sculptor of 30 years old or under was presented to Charlotte Cundell for her sensitive tribute to the late, great Brazilian Formula One driver Ayrton Senna (1960-1994). Ceramic with hand-painted patina, Cundell has captured the charisma of the three-time World Champion who tragically lost his life at Imola in 1994, becoming an enduring icon of the sport.
Sophy Dury claimed the Olin Prize (£500), for the best bas relief portrait, with her Wall of Women 2017-2025. A series of individual portraits realised in polychrome terracotta, each representing a woman who has inspired the artist and given her solace with their music, writing painting, sculpting and acting throughout her life, from childhood to adulthood. Dury says the collective piece acts as an act of gratitude for all their hard work, faith and love of life.
Another exciting Polish sculptor, Adam Pys won the Turnor Prize (£400) for the best exhibit by a first-time FACE exhibitor. Pys’ The Man with the Broken Nose is a plaster representation of Jan Himilsbach (1931-1988), a renowned actor and writer who was known for his uncompromising authenticity, outsider charisma and singular presence, that left a lasting mark on Polish post-war culture.
The Lockbund Award, which provides full production costs of one life-size child’s portrait head in bronze and is awarded to the creator of the Best Portrait of a Child went to Maggie Souter for her charming Dad’s Jumper. A wax, terracotta and acrylic portrayal of her daughter Ruby enveloped in her father’s jumper.
Orli Ivanov’s instantly eye-catching Oceania won the Material Prize (£500) for the ‘best exhibit using an unusual material or using a material unusually’. This richly decorated ceramic head represents the goddess of the sea, mother of reefs, embodying creation, erosion, grief, growth and rejuvenation. It is, says the artist, “a woman shaped by time, water and tides.” (top, 2nd right)
Caleb O’Brien’s deeply personal dedication to his inspirational Grandpa Nigel, Splendid, won the Crucible Foundry Award which will cover the full production in bronze of his life-sized portrait of his 95-year-old grandfather’s head. The Foundry Award also acknowledges the best three-dimensional human portrait by a sculptor aged 30 or under and means that Nigel, who is still enjoying life to the full will now be immortalised in bronze. Caleb says that when he asks: “How are you today?” the response from his Grandpa is, invariably, “Splendid!”
Louisa Forbes, President of the Society of Portrait Sculptors says: “The award winners demonstrate the very high standard of work in this exhibition, which brings together figurative sculptors from all over the world because it is the only show of its kind. We are very proud and grateful to them for allowing us to exhibit such a beautiful collection of pieces”.
