Prestigious National and International Awards

Alumni have been winners of MacArthur "Genius" Awards, Caldecott Medals, Emmys and Oscars, National Design Awards and more.

Selected awards and recipients

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

2011, 2004, 1991 Robert B. Richardson 79 FAV, Academy Award in Cinematography

American Academy of Arts and Letters

2023 Huma Bhabha 85 PR for Art
2023 Michael Maltzan BArch 85 P 24 for Architecture
2023 Yvonne Rainer HD 03 for Art
2023 Arlene Shechet MFA 78 CR for Art
2022 Deborah Berke BArch 77 HD 05 for Architecture
2021 Hilton Als HD 16 for Literature
2021 Mel Chin HD 06 for Art
2021 Theaster Gates HD 19 for Art
2021 Faith Ringgold HD 94 for Art
2020 Laurie Anderson HD 08 for Art
2020 Nader Tehrani BArch 86, Arnold W. Brunner Memorial Prize
2018 Nicole Eisenman 87 PT for Art
2018 Jenny Holzer MFA 77 PT HD 03 for Art
2018 Lynn Nottage HD 21 for Literature
2017 Julie Mehretu MFA 97 PT/PR for Art
2015 Art Spiegelman HD 10 for Literature
2014 Ann Hamilton HD 02 for Art
2012 Elizabeth Diller HD 21 for Architecture
2012 Kara Walker MFA 94 PT/PR HD 06 for Art
2003 Yvonne J. Burckhardt 56 PT for Art
2002 Nader Tehrani BArch 86, Arts and Letters Awards
2001 Ed Ruscha HD 08 for Art
1999 Gore Vidal HD 07 for Literature
1993 Hugh Hardy HD 02 for Architecture
1992 Chuck Close HD 97 for Art
1991 Edward Larrabee Barnes HD 82 for Architecture
1991 Michael Graves HD 90 for Architecture
1987 Frank Gehry HD 87 P 98 for Architecture
1986 György Kepes HD 81 for Art
1981 Jack Tworkov 79 HD for Art
1980 Jim Dine HD 84 for Art
1978 Marisol Escobar HD 86 for Art
1977 Ada L. Huxtable HD 78 for Literature
1974 Helen Frankenthaler HD 96 for Art
1970 Robert Motherwell HD 80 for Art

Caldecott Honor Award

2019 Grace P. Lin 96 IL
2019 Ogechukwu I. Mora 16 IL
2014, 2000, 1998 David R. Wiesner 78 IL P 15
2006, 1996 Marjorie A. Priceman 81 IL
2001 Christopher H. Bing 83 IL
1968 Edward R. Emberley EFS 60*

Caldecott Medal

2008 Brian P. Selznick 88 IL
2007, 2002, 1992 David R. Wiesner 78 IL P 15
1991 David A. Macaulay BArch 69 HD 04
1986, 1982 Chris Van Allsburg MFA 75 SC
1967 Edward R. Emberley EFS 60*

Cannes Film Festival

2003 Gus G. Van Sant 75 FAV, Best Director and Palme D'Or

Creative Capital Award

2020 Jarrett C. Mellenbruch 93 PT
2005 Patrick H. Mahaffy 96 FAV

Fulbright Study / Research Grants

RISD is one of the highest-ranking producers of Fulbright Fellows in the Specialized Institution Category. A full list of RISD Fulbright recipients is available through the RISD Career Center.

Guggenheim Fellowship

2011 Janine M. Antoni MFA 89 SC
2011 John M. Willis MFA 86 PH
2006 Patrick H. Mahaffy 96 FAV
2005 Bruce Chao 73 SC/MFA 75 GL
2004 Arlene J. Shechet MFA 78 CR
2023 Christina M. Seely MFA 03 PH
2023 Claudia D. Bitran MFA 13 PT

Guggenheim Museum's First Annual Art Award

2009 Ryan B. Trecartin 04 FAV

Harvard Radcliffe Institute Fellowship

2016–2017 Aisha K. Burnes 98 GD, David and Robert Logie Fellow
2016–2017 Lamia Joreige 95 PT, Rita E. Hauser Fellow
2013–2014 Tammy M. Dudman 96 FAV, Radcliffe-Harvard Film Study Center
2006–2007 Anna Haber 98 PT, David and Roberta Logie Fellowship
2000–2001 Colleen M. Kiely 84 PT, Bunting Program

Heinz Award

2021 Tanya Aguiniga MFA 05 FD

Hollywood Walk of Fame

2019 Seth W. MacFarlane 95 FAV HD 07

MacArthur "Genius" Awards

2022 Tavares Strachan 03 GL
2015 Nicole S. Eisenman 87 PT
2012 Natalia Almada MFA 01 PH
2006 Anna Haber 98 PT
2006 David A. Macaulay BArch 69 HD 04
2006 Josiah G. McElheny 89 GL
2006 Shahzia Sikander MFA 95 PT/PR
2005 Julie Mehretu MFA 97 PT/PR
2004 James F. Carpenter 72 IL
1998 Janine M. Antoni MFA 89 SC
1997 Kara E. Walker MFA 94 PT/PR HD 06

National Academy of Design

2022 Laurie Anderson HD 08; Deborah Berke BArch 77 HD 05; Huma Bhabha 85 PR; Nicole Eisenman 87 PT

National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences

2022 Nicholas Rubin 01 FAV and Oliver Carr 20 FAV as part of the team of "Reeducated" for The New Yorker, Outstanding Interactive Media, Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards
2011, 2005, 2004 Scott J. Vanzo 91 AR, Primetime Emmy
2010 Charles A. Ragins 91 IL, Primetime Emmy
2007, 2005 Geoffrey C. Adams 83 FAV, Daytime Emmy
2002, 2000 Seth W. MacFarlane 95 FAV HD 07, Primetime Emmy

National Science Foundation (NSF) Grant

2020 Ama Ford D. Rogan 88 PT

Peabody Award

2023 Nicholas Rubin 01 FAV and Oliver Carr 20 FAV as part of the team of "Reeducated" for The New Yorker

Venice Architecture Biennale

2010 Kyungen Kim MFA 97 SC
2010 Do Ho Suh 94 PT
2010 Eulho Suh BArch 91

Venice Biennale

2019 Korakrit Arunanondchai 09 PR
2019 Nicole S. Eisenman 87 PT
2019 Martine A. Gutierrez 12 PR
2019 Julie Mehretu MFA 97 PT/PR
2019 Judith Unger Murphy 69 SC
2019, 2013 Tavares H. Strachan 03 GL
2017 Leigh A. Ledare 06 PH
2017 Jessi E. Reaves 10 PT
2017 Jordan M. Wolfson 03 SC
2014 Laura A. Owens 92 PT
2014 Sara G. Rafferty 00 PH
2012 Elizabeth B. Deschenes 88 PH
2009 Dale P. Chihuly MFA 68 CR HD 86
2007, 2005 Jenny Holzer MFA 77 PT HD 03
2007 Kara E. Walker MFA 94 PT/PR HD 06
2005 Shahzia Sikander MFA 95 PT/PR
2003 Roni Horn 75 SC
2003 Andrea M. Zittel MFA 90 SC
2001 Do Ho Suh 94 PT

Whitney Biennial

2024 Jes Fan 13 GL
2024 Rose B. Simpson MFA 11 CR
2019 Korakrit Arunanondchai 09 PR
2019, 2012 Nicole S. Eisenman 87 PT
2019 Shara L. Hughes 04 PT
2017 Deana M. Lawson MFA 04 PH
2010 Huma F. Bhabha 85 PR
2008 Natalia Almada MFA 01 PH
2006 Daniel H. Colen 01 PT
2006 Michael A. Snow MFA 89 PH
2006 Ryan B. Trecartin 04 FAV
2006 Jordan M. Wolfson 03 SC
2004 Lecia A. Dole-Recio 94 PT
2004 W. Spencer Finch MFA 89 SC
2004 Roni Horn 75 SC
2004 Julie Mehretu MFA 97 PT/PR
2004 Laura A. Owens 92 PT
2004 Liisa J. Roberts 90 SC
2004 Andrea M. Zittel MFA 90 SC
2002 James M. Drain 98 SC
2002 Leif A. Goldberg 97 FAV
2002 Ara R. Peterson 97 FAV
1997 Shahzia Sikander MFA 95 PT/PR