Nari Ward Wins 2017 Vilcek Prize for Arts, Iman Issa, Meleko Mokgosi and Carlos Motta Receive Creative Promise Awards

The Vilcek Foundation, based in New York, has named Nari Ward as the recipient of its 2017 Vilcek Prize in the arts category. This award, which includes a $100,000 cash prize, recognizes immigrants who have made significant and lasting contributions to American society through their work in the arts, humanities, or biomedical research. Ward was honored specifically for his extensive body of work utilizing found-object assemblage. His art is noted for engaging viewers in public discourse and intimate dialogue on themes including race, poverty, immigration, and Caribbean diaspora identity. In addition to the main prize, the foundation also awarded Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise in Fine Arts to artists Iman Issa, Meleko Mokgosi, and Carlos Motta. Each of these three artists received a $50,000 cash award. The announcement of these awards was made on 2 February 2017.