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    • Established by the High Museum of Art in 2005, the David C. Driskell Prize is the first national award to honor and celebrate contributions to the field of African American art and art history. Named after the renowned African American artist and art scholar, the prize recognizes a scholar or artist in the beginning or middle of his or her career whose work makes an original and important contribution to the field of African American art or art history. A cash award of $25,000 accompanies the prize.



    2011 Prize Winner: Valerie Cassel Oliver
    Valerie Cassel Oliver, senior curator at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, has been named as the recipient of the 2011 David C. Driskell Prize. Learn more

    2010 Prize Winner: Renee Stout
    Renee Stout, a Washington, D.C.-based artist who works in a variety of media from sculpture to printmaking, has been named as the recipient of the 2010 David C. Driskell Prize. Learn more

    2009 Prize Winner: Krista A. Thompson
    The High Museum of Art has named scholar Krista A. Thompson, Assistant Professor of African Diaspora and African Art at Northwestern University and independent curator, as the 2009 recipient of the David C. Driskell Prize. Learn more

    2008 Prize Winner: Xaviera Simmons
    Brooklyn-based artist Xaviera Simmons combines 21st-century media and traditional art forms, encompassing photography, performance, video and installation. Learn more

    2007 Prize Winner: Franklin Sirmans
    Franklin Sirmans is the curator of modern and contemporary art at the Menil Collection in Houston, Texas. Learn more

    2006 Prize Winner: Willie Cole
    Artist Willie Cole uses discarded everyday objects–such as irons, blow dryers and high-heeled shoes–to create iconic sculptures, installations and prints that present social, political or cultural perspectives of the urban African-American experience. Learn more

    2005 Prize Winner: Dr. Kellie Jones
    Dr. Kellie Jones is the inaugural recipient of the David C. Driskell Prize. She is currently Assistant Professor in the Departments of History of Art and African-American Studies at Yale University. Learn more

    Valerie Cassel Oliver

    Valerie Cassel Oliver
    2011 Driskell Prize Winner