Robert Ariail

Robert Ariail has been creating award winning editorial cartoons in South Carolina for 40 years. His work is distributed to over 600 newspapers by Andrews McMeel syndicate.

Robert’s cartoons have won international, national, regional and state awards including: The National Association of Alternative Newsmedia Award, 2023; The National Press Foundation’s Berryman Award, 2012; The United Nations Ranan Lurie Award, 2009; The Overseas Press Club’s Thomas Nast Award, 1997; The Society of Professional Journalists’ Sigma Delta Chi Award, 1992; The National Headliner Award, 1990; The Society of Professional Journalists’ Green Eyeshade Award (seven times); The SC Press Association’s President’s Award for lifetime achievement, 2016 and The Elizabeth O’Neill Verner Governor’s Award for the Arts, 2012.

 Ariail was also a Finalist for The Pulitzer Prize three times.

Ariail is a South Carolina native and University of South Carolina graduate


The Degenerate Art Project is a week-long multidisciplinary arts event (July 9–12 at Stormwater Studios) inviting Columbia artists to respond to today's socio-political climate, and unite our local arts community—physically and in spirit—in support and solidarity during challenging times. Inspired by—and reclaiming—the legacy of the Nazi-labeled “Degenerate Art” of 1937, this project champions creative resistance and free expression through a visual art exhibition, featuring over 20 Midlands artists, and one-night-only poetry, community and music events.