39th Rosen Sculpture Walk

The nationally recognized Rosen Sculpture Competition and Exhibition has showcased contemporary American sculpture in outdoor settings across the university campus for the last 39 years. Join juror Joseph Bigley as he leads the outdoor tour of the 10 sculptures he selected as finalists for this year’s competition. Bigley is the Executive Director of the Western North Carolina Sculpture Center and professor of art at Appalachian State University; he shows his sculpture internationally. The walking tour will culminate at the Schaefer Center with an awards reception and complimentary boxed lunch.

Participants will gather outdoors, at the reception tent adjacent to the Schaefer Center. The Rosen Sculpture Walk will take place rain or shine. In the event of heavy rain, a presentation by the juror, including images of the sculptures, will be held indoors at the Schaefer Center. Event concludes with an awards reception and a complimentary boxed lunch.

The Rosen Sculpture Competition and Exhibition is made possible by the generous support of the Martin and Doris Rosen Giving Fund/Debbie Rosen Davidson and David Rosen and the Charles and Nancy Rosenblatt Foundation.

About the Juror

This year’s competition juror is Joseph Bigley. A native of North Carolina, Joseph Bigley holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from Alfred University in Sculptural Dimensional Studies. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Appalachian State University. His work has been exhibited across the United States and Internationally including China, the Netherlands, Spain, Montevideo, Uruguay and Berlin. A mixed media sculptor and educator, he worked as Assistant Professor of Art, Sculpture at Spelman College in Atlanta, GA for five years. He is currently a full-time lecturer of Art at Appalachian State University and is a founder and the executive director of the Western North Carolina Sculpture Center and Park in Lenoir, NC. The Turchin Center is proud to welcome Joseph Bigley as our distinguished juror for the 39th ANNUAL ROSEN OUTDOOR SCULPTURE COMPETITION & EXHIBITION 2025-26.