Alison Saar to Receive 2025 David C. Driskell Prize at High Museum Gala

The High Museum of Art in Atlanta has announced Los Angeles-based artist Alison Saar as the recipient of the 2025 David C. Driskell Prize, recognizing her significant contributions to African American art. The award includes a $50,000 cash prize and will be formally presented at the 20th annual Driskell Prize Gala on September 20, 2025, featuring a performance by John Legend.

Established in 2005, the David C. Driskell Prize honors individuals who have made original and significant contributions to African American art or art history. Past recipients include Amy Sherald, Mark Bradford, and Rashid Johnson.

Saar is renowned for her sculptures, installations, and mixed-media works that explore the African American experience through references to history, literature, and mythology. Her work is featured in major institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Whitney Museum of American Art. In 2024, she created "Salon," a sculpture commissioned for the Paris Olympic Games, now permanently displayed in the Charles Aznavour Garden on the Champs-Élysées.

Upon receiving the award, Saar stated:

"I am honored to have been chosen as the 2025 recipient of the David C. Driskell Prize. At a time when many of the civil rights milestones achieved by previous generations—by our mothers and grandmothers—are being threatened or dismantled, the Driskell Prize empowers Black artists and art historians to push back. When our art is removed from museum exhibitions or our shows are canceled, this prize offers not only validation, but also the support to continue making work that is courageous and truthful work that is often stifled by the limitations of mainstream institutions."

The David C. Driskell Prize, established by the High Museum of Art in 2005, is the first national award to honor and celebrate contributions to the field of African American art and art history. The prize alternates annually between recognizing a practicing U.S.-based African American artist and an art historian whose work makes an original and important contribution to the visual arts and the study of African American art. The recipient receives $50,000 in unrestricted funds to further their research or artistic practice.

David C. Driskell (1931–2020) was an American artist, scholar, and curator recognized for his work in establishing African American art as a distinct field of study. He curated more than 35 exhibitions of work by Black artists, including the landmark 1976 exhibition "Two Centuries of Black American Art" at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. This exhibition was pivotal in highlighting the contributions of Black artists to American visual culture. Driskell held the title of Distinguished University Professor of Art Emeritus at the University of Maryland, College Park, and the David C. Driskell Center at the university is named in his honor.

The selection process for the 2025 Driskell Prize began with a call for nominations from a national pool of artists, curators, teachers, collectors, and art historians. Alison Saar was chosen from these nominations by a review committee assembled by the High Museum of Art, which included:

• Willie Cole, artist and 2006 Driskell Prize recipient
• Dr. Kellie Jones, 2005 Driskell Prize recipient and professor in art history and archaeology at Columbia University
• Kevin W. Tucker, chief curator at the High Museum of Art
• Maria L. Kelly, assistant curator of photography at the High Museum of Art

Alison Saar's receipt of the 2025 David C. Driskell Prize underscores the ongoing recognition and celebration of African American artists who address complex themes related to identity, history, and social justice. Her work, which often explores the African American experience through historical and mythological references, contributes to a broader understanding and appreciation of Black art in contemporary society. The inclusion of a high-profile performance by John Legend at the gala further elevates the visibility of the event, potentially attracting a wider audience and fostering greater engagement with African American art and culture.

The 20th annual Driskell Prize Gala will be held on September 20, 2025, at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta. The event will honor Alison Saar's achievements and feature a performance by John Legend. Tickets for the gala are available through the High Museum's website.