Laurie Anderson and Lawrence Weiner Win 2017 Wolf Prize for Arts

The Wolf Foundation announced on 3 January that Laurie Anderson and Lawrence Weiner would receive the 2017 Wolf Prize for art. Both artists, who live and work in New York, were recognized for the radical and avant-garde nature of their practices, which have inspired subsequent generations. Anderson, a musician, film director, and artist, was praised by the selection panel for breaking boundaries between media and expanding creative possibilities, describing her as a symbol of the contemporary era who consistently explores new options and challenges norms. Weiner was honored as a conceptual art pioneer for his groundbreaking use of language as artistic material. The award, often referred to as the 'Israeli Nobel Prize,' celebrates achievements in the arts and sciences, with five prizes awarded annually across rotating disciplines; for 2017, the categories included physics, chemistry, mathematics, medicine, and art. Anderson and Weiner will split a $100,000 prize. The announcement was reported by The Times of Israel.