Thelma Golden Wins 2023 Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize

The 2023 Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize has been awarded to Thelma Golden, who serves as the Director and Chief Curator of the Studio Museum in Harlem. This prestigious award, established by actress Lillian Gish's will, honors individuals for their exceptional contributions to the arts and includes a cash prize of around $250,000. Golden has been at the helm of the Studio Museum since 2005, following Dr. Lowery Stokes Sims, and has been part of the institution since 2000. Notable for her curatorial efforts, she has overseen projects like the F shows series, which began in 2001, and significant exhibitions such as Chris Ofili: Afro Muses 1995–2005. Previously, she was involved with the Whitney Museum of American Art, where she curated the 1993 Whitney Biennial and the influential 1994 exhibition Black Male: Representations of Masculinity in American Art. Golden's accolades also include the 2010 Audrey Irmas Award for Curatorial Excellence and the 2018 J. Paul Getty Medal. Previous Gish Prize winners include notable figures like Spike Lee, Maya Lin, and Laurie Anderson.