Genius Grants and the Art of Unseen Stories Across Borders and Traditions
Every year, the MacArthur Foundation quietly spotlights creators whose work reshapes how we see the world—no applications, no interviews, just peer recognition and a life-changing grant. Among the 2023 fellows, four visual artists stand out for their bold approaches to history, identity, and community. Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons, drawing from her Cuban roots, crafts installations that trace the tangled legacies of the Afro-Cuban diaspora, inviting viewers to witness stories often left in the shadows. Raven Chacon, a Diné composer and artist, turns sound into a tool for reimagining the histories of contested lands, using visual scores to honor Indigenous women’s musical voices. Carolyn Lazard disrupts the myth of the solitary artist, instead highlighting the collective, often invisible labor behind art and care. Dyani White Hawk, Sičáŋǧu Lakota, transforms beadwork into a quiet act of resistance, weaving Indigenous tradition into the fabric of contemporary art. These artists remind us: true genius often lies in the courage to reveal what’s been overlooked or unheard.
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