Artist Of The Year

2020 will mark the 18th year of this outstanding community program showcasing a collection of local artists who offer a wide range of media. Through this program, the Walton County TDC promotes the destination's thriving arts community while placing the spotlight on one talented artist.

Each artist recognized with the designation is commissioned to create one piece of special artwork for Walton County. These artworks can be found hanging in the South Walton Annex, the Visit South Walton Visitor Center and Conference Room, and other public places across Walton County. 

"The Artist of the Year program has many benefits to the winning artist. One of the outstanding benefits is that you have a great team that promotes the art and artist way beyond the boundaries of Walton County.  Opportunities are created throughout the year that promotes your art in a much, much broader spectrum than one would normally be exposed to.  It's a win-win situation."  — Michael McCarty, 2009 Artist of the Year.

To learn more about the Artist of the Year program, contact Lisa Foster at (850) 333-2728 or Lisa@visitsouthwalton.com.

2020 Artist of the Year: Doug Foltz

Doug Foltz was honored as the 2020 South Walton Artist of the Year during the annual Perfect in South Walton Awards held Jan. 23. Foltz, a Florida native, is a coastal landscape artist who loves nature and the natural beauty found in South Walton. 

"It's as much about the way a place makes me feel as the way it looks," he says. "I like places in nature that make me feel small, so I tend to do a lot of big skies."

Learn more about Foltz and his work here.

Former Artists of the Year

• 2019 - Jenna Varney
• 2018 - Kathleen Broaderick 
• 2017 - Marisol Gullo
• 2016 – Melody Bogle
• 2015 – Juan Adaro
• 2014 – Mary Hong 
• 2013 – Andy Saczynski
• 2012 – Allison Craft 
• 2011 – Allison Wickey 
• 2010 – Michael Granberry 
• 2009 – Michael McCarty
• 2008 – Donna Burgess
• 2007 – Bill Stephenson 
• 2006 – Phil Kiser
• 2005 – Justin Gaffrey 
• 2004 - Susan Lucas
• 2003 – Dorothy Starbuck