Khalil McKnight wins RISD Museum's 2026 Dorner Prize for performance piece The Observer

Khalil McKnight, a painting major at RISD expected to graduate in 2027, has been honored with the 2026 Dorner Prize by the RISD Museum. This prestigious annual competition is aimed at assisting student artists in crafting site-specific projects. McKnight's acclaimed proposal, titled The Observer, is a performance that will unfold in the Grand Gallery of the museum. The piece involves live performances where McKnight assumes the role of a museum visitor, quietly traversing the galleries while jotting down observations. He will don a costume made from recycled black hoodies, influenced by Egungun and New Orleans masquerade traditions. The performance seeks to critique institutional space, access, and presence. Jurors for the prize included Gabrielle Walker, the Nancy Elizabeth Prophet Curatorial Assistant, and Michael Demps, an Associate Professor in RISD's Experimental and Foundation Studies.