The Rosemary Beach Sculpture Exhibition 2025 transformed the town into an outdoor gallery, showcasing nine sculptures from October 19, 2024, to October 19, 2025. This biennial event focused on public art's role in complementing the town's architecture, inspired by Dutch Colonial, West Indies, and New Orleans styles. Key pieces included Earl Dismuke’s Dingbat, Raine Bedsole’s An Oar for Odysseus, and Paul Saviskas’s Jubilation.
- Event Duration: One year, ending October 2025.
- Top Sculpture: Dingbat, priced at $30,000, won First Place.
- Visitor Experience: Free access, maps, and the Otocast app for self-guided tours.
- Permanent Collection: Six sculptures remain year-round.
This open-air exhibition combined art with Rosemary Beach's walkable design, offering visitors a chance to engage with sculptures while exploring the town’s public spaces.
2025 Sculpture Highlights
Rosemary Beach 2025 Sculpture Exhibition: Featured Artworks and Pricing Guide
This year’s exhibition continues its tradition of blending contemporary sculpture with the town's architectural charm. The 2024–25 lineup includes nine sculptures, each priced between $6,000 and $45,000, and all reflecting the event's theme of creating a dialogue between modern art and the town's unique character.
Featured Sculptures and Artists
Dingbat by Earl Dismuke took First Place. Standing 138 inches tall, this welded steel piece is priced at $30,000. Dismuke describes it as a tribute to Southern storytelling:
Dingbat is an ode to storytelling and the outlandish stories I heard as a child... In the South storytelling is still a part of the culture.
An Oar for Odysseus by Raine Bedsole earned Second Place. Crafted from solid cast bronze, this 87-inch-tall sculpture is inspired by Coastal Alabama and priced at $24,000. Bedsole sees the boat as a symbol of the soul's journey.
The priciest piece, Jubilation by Paul Saviskas, is listed at $45,000. This 77-inch sculpture, made from stainless steel, concrete, and mosaics, embodies themes of joy, friendship, and community.
Other notable works include Nucleus by Gregory Johnson ($16,500), featuring towering stainless steel rings that explore life's pathways and natural forces, and Positivity in Negative Space by Cecelia Moseley ($6,000), which uses the interplay of positive and negative spaces to emphasize social inclusion.
These award-winning sculptures reflect a wide range of artistic visions and creative interpretations.
Range of Artistic Styles
The exhibition celebrates a diverse mix of artistic styles. Abstract geometric works like Johnson's Nucleus stand in contrast to figurative pieces such as Saviskas’s Jubilation. Luke Achterberg’s Idyll ($20,000) draws inspiration from automotive customization and street art, while Steven Buduo’s Vasanzio Troy ($14,500) takes cues from architectural forms. Buduo explains:
My work is deeply rooted in themes of space, scale, and gravity. Using steel and concrete as primary mediums, I draw inspiration from architecture to create sculptures that evoke imagery of monumental structures.
The materials used - stainless steel, solid cast bronze, bonding cement, and welded steel - are chosen for their resilience against the coastal environment's challenging conditions, including salt air, high humidity, and intense sunlight.
Selection Process
The sculptures were chosen through a rigorous selection process involving a jury of art experts, community members, and town officials. The goal: to enhance the town’s environment through public art. Each selected artist received a $3,000 honorarium for installation, with additional prizes of $2,000 and $1,000 awarded to the first and second place winners, respectively.
All nine sculptures will remain on display until October 2025, and they’ll be available for purchase at that time. A 30% commission fee will be applied to any sales.
Permanent Sculpture Collection
Key Permanent Works
Rosemary Beach is home to six permanent sculptures, thoughtfully placed across its public spaces. These pieces enhance the community's charm, from the bustling Town Center to serene pocket parks and gardens.
One standout is "Colors of My Mind" by George Rodrigue, the first permanent installation in the collection. Donated to the Rosemary Beach Property Owner's Association in 2017, this 8-foot-tall sculpture by the late New Orleans artist features a paint finish that shifts colors under sunlight, creating a dynamic visual experience. Wendy Rodrigue, the artist's wife, shared, "Public art is great because it's free to bring your families around and enjoy." Another prominent piece is "Votive" by Gregory Johnson, which holds a special place in the collection.
These sculptures reflect the town’s commitment to making art an accessible and integral part of the community.
Year-Round Access
The permanent sculptures are woven into Rosemary Beach's walkable layout, ensuring art is always just a short stroll away from major amenities. This thoughtful design makes the sculptures a natural and engaging part of everyday life.
To explore the collection, visitors can use the Otocast app for a self-guided audio tour featuring narrations by the artists themselves. For those who prefer a more traditional approach, physical maps are available at the Post Office, Town Hall, and local shops. Together with the rotating exhibition, the permanent collection highlights Rosemary Beach’s dedication to blending art seamlessly into daily life. As Tom Kramer, Project Manager, explained, "The purpose of the sculpture exhibition is to enhance the quality and excellence of Rosemary Beach by using sculptures that refine the town's architectural character." All sculptures remain accessible year-round in outdoor public spaces.
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Visitor Guide to the Exhibition
Where to Find the Sculptures
The sculptures are scattered across Rosemary Beach, enhancing its charm by being placed in pocket parks, town squares, and gardens. Key locations include Barrett Square, the town's heart, and Western Green, which opens up to the Gulf of Mexico. Thanks to Rosemary Beach's New Urbanism layout, the town is designed with a network of interconnected sidewalks and paths, making it easy to explore on foot. As Fractured Atlas describes it:
a return to walkable paths and sidewalks surrounding a town center and public spaces where people live, work and play
To navigate the exhibition, you can use the free Otocast app or pick up printed maps at the Post Office, Village Hall, or local shops. For the best experience, consider visiting in the late afternoon when the temperatures are cooler, and the lighting is perfect for enjoying the art.
Community and Visitor Interaction
Once you’ve found the sculptures, take a moment to soak in the lively atmosphere they create. This outdoor gallery encourages community connections and offers plenty of opportunities to relax at nearby bistros. It’s a chance to engage not just with the art, but also with the vibrant surroundings.
Fractured Atlas highlights the exhibition’s impact, noting:
can encourage locals and visitors alike to view the world and their own heritage in perhaps new and inspiring ways as they engage with the personal artistic expression of each sculptor
To share your experience, post photos or thoughts on social media using the hashtag #rosemarybeachsculpture. Best of all, the exhibition is completely free, making it an open invitation for everyone to enjoy.
People's Choice Awards
The exhibition isn’t just about observing - it’s about participating. Visitors can vote for their favorite sculpture at rosemarybeachsculpture.com. The piece with the most votes will be crowned the winner, with the announcement made by the Rosemary Beach Homeowners Association in October.
Conclusion
The fourth biennial exhibition wrapped up on October 19, 2025, turning Rosemary Beach into an open-air gallery with 15 sculptures that seamlessly combined fresh creations with permanent installations. This event added a new layer to the town's architectural and artistic identity.
More than just a visual experience, the exhibition brought the community together, transforming public spaces into interactive hubs of creativity. With free access, features like the Otocast app, and the People's Choice Award voting, it created a deeper connection between art, nature, and daily life. The event highlighted how contemporary sculpture can enrich public spaces while harmonizing with Rosemary Beach's distinct architectural style and its stunning Gulf Coast backdrop.
If you're heading to South Walton's 30A coastline, keep an eye out for announcements on the next exhibition cycle. Meanwhile, the permanent collection remains on display year-round, offering a continuous celebration of the town's artistic energy and charm. For details about other events and attractions along 30A, visit sowal.co. This exhibition exemplifies the vibrant relationship between art, community, and the unique coastal beauty of Rosemary Beach.
Whether you're passionate about art or just love exploring scenic outdoor spaces, Rosemary Beach's dedication to public art makes it a standout destination that offers much more than your typical beach town experience.
FAQs
Why is the Rosemary Beach Sculpture Exhibition important?
The Rosemary Beach Sculpture Exhibition is a biennial outdoor art event that blends contemporary sculptures with the town’s picturesque coastal backdrop and distinctive architecture. This juried exhibition showcases artistic talent while harmonizing with Rosemary Beach’s New Urbanism design and natural surroundings.
This event plays a vital role in connecting the community with public art, offering artists a visible platform to share their work, and adding depth to the area’s artistic identity. It also attracts visitors, making it a standout feature of Rosemary Beach’s lively arts and culture scene.
What are some ways visitors can experience the sculptures during the exhibition?
Visitors can dive into the Rosemary Beach Sculpture Exhibition through a variety of engaging experiences. One standout feature is the self-guided audio tour, accessible via the Otocast app. This app lets artists share their thoughts and stories behind their creations, giving visitors a more personal and meaningful connection to the artwork.
The exhibition is designed as an outdoor, walkable display, encouraging guests to take their time exploring each sculpture while soaking in the unique charm of Rosemary Beach’s carefully planned community. Many of the sculptures are situated in public spaces, inviting casual interactions and creating a laid-back, social atmosphere. This combination of art, education, and leisure ensures a memorable outing for everyone who attends.
How are sculptures selected for the Rosemary Beach Sculpture Exhibition?
The sculptures featured in the Rosemary Beach Sculpture Exhibition are chosen with a focus on the event's theme: "Elevating Our Built Environment Through Public Art." The selection process emphasizes works that enhance public spaces, showcase creativity, and encourage community interaction.
As part of this juried outdoor exhibition, sculptures are carefully evaluated for how well they blend with the natural surroundings and the architectural charm of Rosemary Beach. Judges also take into account factors like sustainability, originality, and the ability of the artwork to spark meaningful conversations and inspire thought. The overarching goal is to present pieces that enrich the town’s identity while deepening the connection between art, the environment, and the community.
