MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Every other year, the Alabama State Council on the Arts shines a spotlight on exceptional Alabamians and their contributions to arts and creativity in the state, across the nation and beyond. The agency recently announced the names of seven individuals who will be honored during the 2026 Celebration of Alabama Arts awards ceremony in May. Acclaimed artist Gary Chapman, who lives and operates his studio in Cullman, is among the honorees.
Chapman is a 2026 recipient of the Alabama Arts Impact Award. This award honors individuals who have made unique and meaningful contributions to arts and creativity in Alabama and is the state’s highest arts honor.
Chapman is professor emeritus of painting and drawing at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Chapman has an extensive career marked by more than 90 solo exhibitions with institutions such as the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, the Arts Center of St. Petersburg, Florida, the University of Cincinnati and the Indianapolis Art Center. He has also participated in numerous group and invitational exhibitions with regional, national and international venues. His paintings have been purchased for the collections of numerous museums across the Southeast, as well as for many corporate and private collections nationwide.
In 2013, Chapman was named a Creating a Living Legacy (CALL) Artist by the Joan Mitchell Foundation. He is the recipient of numerous grants and artist fellowships, including a 1996 painting fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts/South Arts (formerly the Southern Arts Federation) and two visual arts fellowships from the Alabama State Council on the Arts. Learn more at garychapmanart.com.
This year’s full list of award recipients and categories is as follows:
- Eric Essix, guitarist, recording artist, photographer – Alabama Distinguished Artist Award
- Scott Wright, musical artist – Jonnie Dee Riley Little Lifetime Achievement Award
- Ralph Frohsin Jr., arts patron – Albert B. Head Legacy Award
- Gary Waldrep, old-time musician, teaching artist – Alabama Folk Heritage Award
- Debbie Bond, musician, teaching artist – Alabama Arts Impact Award
- Gary Chapman, artist, professor emeritus – Alabama Arts Impact Award
- George Culver, arts administrator, producer – Alabama Arts Impact Award
“This program highlights our appreciation for the artistry and creativity that abounds within our state – and the people who make it possible,” said Elliot Knight, executive director of the Alabama State Council on the Arts. “Through their tireless dedication and remarkable achievements, each honoree in the 2026 cohort has played a vital role in shaping Alabama’s cultural landscape.”
The work of these remarkable individuals will be recognized and celebrated with mini-documentaries and memorable tribute performances during a free event on the evening of Thursday, May 14, 2026, at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival (ASF) in Montgomery.
Tickets are complimentary but must be reserved through the ASF box office. Visit https://tickets.asf.net/15397/15398 or call 334-271-5353 for ticketing details. For more information about this year’s event and honorees, go to arts.alabama.gov/celebrate.
