Awards / Exhibitions

2023 First Place
Neptune Festival Art & Craft Show – Virginia Beach, Virginia (Juried Exhibition)

2023 Merit Award
Festival in the Park – Charlotte, NC (Juried Exhibition)

2023 Best In Show
Ann Arbor State Street District Art Fair, Ann Arbor, Michigan (Juried Exhibition)

2023 Juror’s Choice 2D Award
Columbus Arts Festival – Columbus, Ohio (Juried Exhibition)

2022 Friends of Virginia MOCA Award of Distinction in Fine Art
66th Annual Boardwalk Artshow –Virginia Beach, Virginia (Juried Exhibition)

2022 Best In Show
Festival in the Park – Charlotte, NC (Juried Exhibition)

2022 Best In Show
Lazy Daze Arts Festival – Cary, NC (Juried Exhibition)

2022 Best In Show
Columbus Arts Festival – Columbus, Ohio (Juried Exhibition)

2022 Merit Award
Main St. Arts Festival – Fort Worth, Texas (Juried Exhibition)

2022 Best In Show
Naples National Art Show – Naples, Florida (Juried Exhibition)

2021 First Place
Artisanville Fine Art Show – Greenville, South Carolina (Juried Exhibition)

2021 Thomas A. Felton, Jr. Award of Distinction in Fine Art
65th Annual Boardwalk Artshow –Virginia Beach, Virginia (Juried Exhibition)

2021 Best In Show
Artsplosure – The Raleigh Art Festival – Raleigh, North Carolina (Juried Exhibition)

2021 Award of Merit
An Occasion for the Arts – Williamsburg, Virginia (Juried Exhibition)

2021 Second Place
Neptune Festival Art & Craft Show – Virginia Beach, Virginia (Juried Exhibition)

2019 Best In Show
River Arts Festival – Memphis, Tennessee (Juried Exhibition)

2019 Best In Show
Bethesda Row Art Festival – Bethesda, Maryland (Juried Exhibition)

2019 Best In Show
St. James Court Art Festival (Belgravia Section) – Louisville, Kentucky (Juried Exhibition)

2019 Best In Show
Neptune Festival Art & Craft Show – Virginia Beach, Virginia (Juried Exhibition)

2019 Best New Artist
Armonk Outdoor Art Show – Armonk, New York (Juried Exhibition)

2019 First Place
Arts & Apples Art Festival – Rochester, Michigan (Juried Exhibition)

2019 Best In Show
Boardwalk Art Show – Virginia Beach, Virginia (Juried Exhibition)

2019 Best In Show
Art Beats & Eats – Royal Oaks, Michigan (Juried Exhibition)

2019 Best In Show
Art Fair On The Square – Madison, Wisconsin (Juried Exhibition)

2019 Best In Show
Boardwalk Art Show – Virginia Beach, Virginia (Juried Exhibition)

2019 Festival Award
Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival – Pittsburgh Pennsylvania (Juried Exhibition)

2019 Best In Show
Artisphere Fine Arts Festival – Greenville, SC (Juried Exhibition)

2019 Most Unique
New Orleans Jazz Festival (Congo Square) – New Orleans, Louisiana (Juried Exhibition)

2019 Best of Show
 Main St. Arts Festival – Fort Worth, Texas (Juried Exhibition)

2019 First Place
Coconut Grove Art Festival – Coconut Grove, Florida (Juried Exhibition)

2018 Best in Show
Pastel Journal Founder’s Award in Memory of Maggie Price (Juried Exhibition)

2018 Best In Category
Bethesda Row Art Festival – Bethesda, Maryland (Juried Exhibition)

2018 Second Place
Neptune Festival Art & Craft Show – Virginia Beach, Virginia (Juried Exhibition)

2018 Juror’s Choice Award
Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival – Pittsburgh Pennsylvania (Juried Exhibition)

2018 Best of Show
Main St. Arts Festival – Fort Worth, Texas (Juried Exhibition)

2018 First Place
Coconut Grove Art Festival – Coconut Grove, Florida (Juried Exhibition)

2018 Award of Excellence
Mount Dora Arts Festival – Mount Dora, FL (Juried Exhibition)

2017 Best In Show / Drawing
River Arts Festival – Memphis, TN (Juried Exhibition)

2017 Judges Choice Award
Artsplosure – The Raleigh Art Festival – Raleigh, NC (Juried Exhibition)

2017 Best In Show
Artisphere Fine Arts Festival – Greenville, SC (Juried Exhibition)

2017 Merit Award
Main St. Arts Festival – Fort Worth, Texas (Juried Exhibition)

2016 Second Place Award
Virginia Beach Neptune Arts Festival – Virginia Beach, VA (Juried Exhibition)

2016 Invitation Award
Plaza Art Fair – Kansas City, Missouri (Juried Exhibition)

2016 Merit Award
Columbus Art Festival – Columbus, Ohio (Juried Exhibition)

2016 Best of Drawing/Printmaking/Graphics Category
Virginia Highland Art Festival – Atlanta, GA (Juried Exhibition)

2016 Honorable Mention Award
Artsplosure – The Raleigh Art Festival – Raleigh, NC (Juried Exhibition)

2016 Merit Award
Main St. Art Festival – Fort Worth, Texas (Juried Exhibition)

2016 Best in Drawing/Printmaking/Graphics Category
Atlanta Dogwood Fine Art Festival – Atlanta, GA (Juried Exhibition)

2015 MWBE Excellence Award
Minority & Women Business Enterprise – GUC & City of Greenville, NC (Selected)

2015 Best of Show Drawing/ Printmaking /Pastel Category
Atlanta Arts Festival – Atlanta, GA (Juried Exhibition)

2015 Best in Show
Artsplosure – The Raleigh Arts Festival – Raleigh, NC (Juried Exhibition)

2015 Honorable Mention
Artisphere Fine Art Festival – Greenville, SC (Juried Exhibition)

2015 Award of Distinction
Winter Park Art Festival – Winter Park, Florida (Juried Exhibition)

2015 First Place
Coconut Grove Art Festival – Coconut Grove, Florida (Juried Exhibition)

2015 Third Place
East Carolina University “AFRICAN AMERICAN LIFE IN EASTERN NC” Community Celebration Reception & Art Exhibition –Greenville, North Carolina (Juried Exhibition)

2014 Award of Distinction
Great Gulf Coast Arts Festival – Pensacola, Florida(Juried Exhibition)

2014 Award of Merit
Plaza Arts Festival – Kansas City, Missouri (Juried Exhibition)

2014 Best of Show Drawing/ Printmaking /Pastel Category
 Atlanta Arts Festival – Atlanta, GA (Juried Exhibition)

2014 Best in Show
Uptown Art Fair – Minneapolis, MN (Juried Exhibition)

2014 Thomas A. Felton, Jr. Award of Distinction in Fine Art
59th Annual Boardwalk Artshow & Festival–Virginia Beach, VA (Juried Exhibition)

2014 Award of Merit
Columbus Arts Festival – Columbus, OH (Juried Exhibition)

2014 Award of Merit 

Artsplosure – The Raleigh Arts Festival – Raleigh, NC (Juried Exhibition)

2014 Best in Drawing Category
A-RTS Rockville Town Square Fine Art Festival – Rockville, MD (Juried Exhibition)

2014 First Place
Coconut Grove Art Festival – Coconut Grove, Florida (Juried Exhibition)

2013 Best of Show
Chastain Park Arts Festival – Atlanta, GA (Juried Exhibition)

2013 First Place
Centerfest Fine Art Festival – Durham, NC (Juried Exhibition)

2013 Best of Painting Watercolor/ Pastel Category
Atlanta Arts Festival – Atlanta, GA (Juried Exhibition)

2013 Second Place
Artisphere Fine Art Festival – Greenville, SC (Juried Exhibition)

2013 Best in Drawing / Printmaking / Graphics Category
Atlanta Dogwood Fine Art Festival – Atlanta, GA (Juried Exhibition)

2012 Third Place
Centerfest Fine Art Festival – Durham, NC (Juried Exhibition)

2012 Artistic Merit Award
North Carolina Statewide Exhibit – On Common Ground: Pastel Paintings From the Mountain to the Sea  – Raleigh, NC (Juried Exhibition)

2012 Third Place
Artisphere Fine Art Festival – Greenville, SC (Juried Exhibition)

2011 NAACP Hall of Legends “Trailblazer Award”
Pitt County NAACP Greenville, North Carolina (Selected)

2011 First Place
St. Stephens Arts Show 2011, Coconut Grove, Florida (Juried Exhibition)

2010 Award of Merit
Gold Coast Art Fair, Chicago, Illinois

2010 First Place
Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair, Ann Arbor, MI (Juried Exhibition)

2010 Best In Drawing Category
Boardwalk Artshow & Festival–Virginia Beach, VA (Juried Exhibition)

2009 First Place
CenterFest Art Festival – Durham, NC (Juried Exhibition)

2009 First Place
Art Appreciation College Text Book Cover Contest

2009 Award of Excellence
Virginia Beach Neptune Artshow & Festival–Virginia Beach, VA (Juried Exhibition)

2009 First Place
Miami Beach Festival of the Arts – Miami Beach, FL (Juried Exhibition)

2009 First Place
Pitt Community College First Annual Fine Art Exhibition (Juried Exhibition)

2008 Best In Show
Ocean View 46th CBAA Annual Artshow – Norfolk, VA (Juried Exhibition)

2008 Third Place
Center Fest Art Festival – Durham, NC (Juried Exhibition)

2006 Pastel Society of New Mexico Award
Pastel Society of America 34th Annual Art Exhibit, National Arts Club–New York, NY. (International Juried Competition)

2006 Award of Merit
Stockley Garden Art Festival (Juried Exhibition)

2006 Award of Honor
Boardwalk Artshow & Festival–Virginia Beach, VA (Juried Exhibition)

2006 Third Place
AFRAM Festival – Norfolk, VA (Juried Exhibition)

2005 First Place
“The Best of North Carolina Artist” Competition) (Juried Publication)

2005 Herman Melville Award of Excellence
Portwarick Art & Sculpture Festival–Newport News, VA (Juried Exhibition)

2005 First Place
Grifton Shad Festival Art Show–Grifton, NC (Juried Exhibition)

2005 People Choice Award
Grifton Shad Festival Art Show–Grifton, NC (Juried Exhibition)

2005 Artwork “Deep Thoughts”
Was published in Living Artist Catalog sold in Barnes & Nobles (Juried Publication Competition).

2002 National Arts Club Award
Pastel Society of America 30th Annual Art Exhibit, National Arts Club–New York, NY. (International Juried Competition) (National Art Club also purchased 4 pieces of his work for their permanent gallery.)

2000 Best In Show
NC Weslyan College Annual Martin Luther King, Jr Competition – Rocky Mount, NC.

1999 First Place
NC Weslyan College Annual Martin Luther King, Jr Competition – Rocky Mount, NC.

Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair
Ann Arbor, MI (Juried Exhibition)

CenterFest Art Festival
Durham, NC (Juried Exhibition)

Virginia Beach Neptune Artshow & Festival
Virginia Beach, VA (Juried Exhibition)

*“SOUTHERN EXPOSURE”
North Carolina State University (solo exhibition)

Artscape
Baltimore, Maryland (Juried Exhibition)

Boardwalk Art Show & Festival
Virginia Beach, VA (Juried Exhibition)

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Congo Square – New Orleans, LA (Juried Exhibition)

34th Annual Mainsail Arts Festival
St. Petersburg, Fl (Juried Exhibition)

Gasparilla Festival of the Arts
Tampa, Fl (Juried Exhibition)

Coconut Grove Arts Festival
Miami, FL (Juried Exhibition)

Miami Beach Festival of the Arts
Miami Beach, FL (Juried Exhibition)

Ocean View 46th CBAA Annual Artshow
Norfolk, VA (Juried Exhibition)

Charlotte Fine Art Show
Charlotte, NC (Juried Exhibition)
* “EXPRESSIONS IN PASTELS”N.C. State University, African American Cultural Center – Raleigh, NC

“Living African American Artist of North Carolina”
Greenville Museum of Arts – Greenville, NC

Atlanta Dogwood Festival
Atlanta, GA (Juried Exhibition)

Piratefest– Greenvile, NC (Juried Exhibition)
*Installation & Unveiling of The Lucille W. Gorham Portrait” City Hall – Greenville, NC

Virginia Beach Neptune Artshow & Festival
Virginia Beach, VA (Juried Exhibition)

5th Annual Alexandria Festival of the Arts
Alexandria, VA (Juried Exhibition)

National Black Arts Festival
Atlanta, GA (Juried Exhibition)

Essence Music Festival
New Orleans, LA (Juried Exhibition)

The 6th Annual National Conference on Black Philanthropy
Arlington, VA (Juried Exhibition)

Capital Jazz Festival
Columbia, MD (Juried Exhibition)

* “LIVING THE DREAM”
Greenville Museum of Arts– Greenville, NC

* This Century Art Gallery
Williamsburg, VA

* Pitt Community College
Greenville, NC

* Roanoke Chowan Community College
Ahoskie, NC

Decor Art Expo 2006
Atlanta, GA

“GICLEE” Opus One Gallery
Atlanta, GA (Sponsored by Hewlett-Packard)

Pastel Society of America 34th Annual Art Exhibit, National Arts Club
New York, NY(International Juried Competition)

Stockley Garden Art Festival
(Juried Exhibition)

Greenville Brushstroke Exhibition at Emerge Gallery
Greenville NC (Juried Exhibition)

National Black Arts Festival
Atlanta, GA (Juried Exhibition)

Boardwalk Artshow & Festival
Virginia Beach, VA (Juried Exhibition)

AFRAM Festival
 Norfolk, VA (Juried Exhibition)

Pepsi Americas’ Sail
Beaufort, NC (Juried Exhibition)

Artsploure
Raleigh, NC (Juried Exhibition)

NC Weslyan College Anniversary Show
Rocky Mount, NC

Decor Art Expo 2006
Atlanta, GA

“GICLEE” Opus One Gallery
Atlanta, GA (Sponsored by Hewlett-Packard)

Pastel Society of America 34th Annual Art Exhibit, National Arts Club
New York, NY(International Juried Competition)

Stockley Garden Art Festival
(Juried Exhibition)

Greenville Brushstroke Exhibition at Emerge Gallery
Greenville NC (Juried Exhibition)

National Black Arts Festival
Atlanta, GA (Juried Exhibition)

Boardwalk Artshow & Festival
Virginia Beach, VA (Juried Exhibition)

AFRAM Festival
 Norfolk, VA (Juried Exhibition)

Pepsi Americas’ Sail
Beaufort, NC (Juried Exhibition)

Artsploure
Raleigh, NC (Juried Exhibition)

NC Weslyan College Anniversary Show
Rocky Mount, NC

Decor Expo 2005
Atlanta, GA

“The Best of North Carolina Artist” Competition
(Juried Publication)

Portwarick Art & Sculpture Festival
Newport News, VA (Juried Exhibition)

Grifton Shad Festival Art Show
Grifton, NC

Artwork “Deep Thoughts”
Was published in Living Artist Catalog sold in Barnes & Nobles (Juried Publication)

National Black Arts Festival
Atlanta, GA (Juried Exhibition)

Boardwalk Artshow & Festival
Virginia Beach, VA (Juried Exhibition)

National Black Theatre Festival
Winston Salem, NC (Juried Exhibition)

*“An African American Experience”
Blount Bridgers House Gallery–Tarboro, NC

*Installation & Unveiling of The George Henry White Portrait in the Edgecombe County Superior Court House
Tarboro, NC

* “A DIVINE EXPERIENCE”
Beaufort County Arts Council–Washington, NC

Philadelphia International Art Expo
Philadelphia, PA (Juried Exhibition)

Pastel Society of America 32nd Annual Art Exhibit,National Arts Club
New York City (Juried Competition)

National Black Arts Festival
Atlanta, Georgia (Juried Exhibition)

Halizo Fine Arts Festival
Norfolk, Virginia (Juried Exhibition)

Schwa Art Show, Emerge Gallery
Greenville, NC (Juried Exhibition)

Old North State Medical Society Convention
Raleigh–North Carolina,(Invitational) (Commission)

International Art Expo
Nash Community College, Nashville, NC (Invitational)

9/11 Show, Greenville Museum of Arts
Greenville, NC (Selected)

Old North State Medical Society Convention
Raleigh, NC (Invitational)

*Jerry’s Artarama
Raleigh, NC (Solo Exhibition)

*Elizabeth City State University Alumni House
Elizabeth City, NC (Invitational)

African American Literary Conference
NC State University–Raleigh, NC (Juried Exhibition)

Clarence E. Lightner Classic,
RBC Center–Raleigh, NC (Invitational)

Pastel Society of America 30th Annual Art Exhibit
National Arts Club–New York, NY (International Juried Competition)

Black History Month Art Exhibition
Washington County Arts Council–Plymouth, NC

Two Man Show
Farmville Arts Council–Farmville, NC

Wilmor Arts Exhibition
Greenville Hilton–Greenville, NC

NC Weslyan College Annual Martin Luther King, Jr Competition
Rocky Mount, NC

Ed Gordon
Television and radio news personality, BET, NBC-TV, CBS-TV, NPR

Ruby Perkins
Educator, Performing Artist – Greenville, NC

Gladys Knight
Singer

Tina Knowles
Designer, Mother of singer Beyonce Knowles

Tom Joyner
Radio, Tom Joyner Morning Show

Victoria Rowell
Actress, “Young & The Restless”

Bev Smith
Radio, BET, Bev Smith Show

Anne & Clifton Davis
Actor, Songwriter, Minister “Amen”,TBN

Wendy Raquel Robinson
Actress, “The Steve Harvey Show”, “The Game”

Dorien Wilson
Actor, The Parkers

Mr & Mrs. Troy and Sissy Templeton
Miami, FL

Mr& Mrs. Macon and Joan Brock
Virginia Beach, VA

Mr& Mrs. Douglas Perry
Virginia Beach, VA

Mr& Mrs.Bob Sasser
Virginia Beach, VA

Mr and Mrs. Tim Bazemore
Windsor, NC

Dr. Ada Williams
Tarboro, NC

Dr. David and Barbara Lee
Tarboro, NC

Donald and Alice Sadler
Washington, NC

Nikki and Gray Blount
Greenville, NC

Hyman and Stacy Brody
Greenville, NC

BJ and Sarah Whitehurst
Greenville, NC

Tom Glennon
Greenville, NC

Dr. Walter Pories
Greenville, NC

Dr. Kevin and Tracey Burton
Greenville, NC

John and Jody Chaffee
Greenville, NC

Pitt Greenville Chamber of Commerce
Greenville, NC

City of Greenville
 Greenville, NC

William and Patricia Robinson
Greenville, NC

Dr. Jayish Patel
 Greenville, NC

Mrs. Martha Dartt
Greenville, NC

Mrs. Jessica Wilkins
Greenville, NC

Attorney Frank and Kelly Harper
Greenville, NC

Mrs. Frankie Beeker
Greenville, NC

International Tennis Hall of Fame
Newport, RI

National Arts Club
New York, NY

Edgecombe County Superior Courthouse
Tarboro NC

North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC

North Carolina A & T University
Greensboro, NC

Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN

Sallie B. Howard School of the Arts & Education
Wilson, NC

Barton College
Wilson, NC

Elizabeth City State University
Elizabeth City, NC

Showers of Blessing Christian Center
Rocky Mount, NC

Christian Chapel Holiness Church
Parmele, NC

Lucille W. Gorham Intergenerational Center
Greenville NC

Pitt Community College
Greenville NC

Little Willie Center
Greenville, NC

Holy Temple Church
Greenville, NC

Blue Moon Brewing Company
Denver, CO

Pitt County Memorial Hospital (Childrens Hospital)
Greenville, NC

Ronald McDonald House
Greenville, NC

North Carolina Board of Nursing
Raleigh, NC

Greenville Convention Center
Greenville NC

Old North State Medical Society
Durham, NC

Bristol Myers Squibb
New York, NY

Tarboro Women Center
Tarboro, NC

Dollar Tree Stores HQ
Chesapeake, VA

Boys and Girls Club
Norfolk, VA

Pastel Society of America
(Signature Member)

Portrait Society of America

Greenville Museum of Arts

* Richard made history, by becoming the first African American Artist to ever have a portrait painting hang in any courthouse in North Carolina.

* Richard painted a portrait of George Henry White the first African American Congressman after the Civil War

Richard WiIson’s Art

Reality and creativity that reflect the beauty in the world.

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