Several Columbia University School of the Arts alumni have received Guggenheim Fellowships, one of the most prestigious awards in the arts and humanities. These fellowships provide funding for exceptional individuals to pursue their creative projects.
"Like Emerson, I believe that fullness in life comes from following our calling," said Edward Hirsch, President of the Guggenheim Foundation and 1985 Fellow in Poetry. "The new class of Fellows has followed their calling to enrich our lives, expand human knowledge, and foster deeper understanding. We are fortunate to have them guiding us into the future."
Among this year's recipients are several School of the Arts alumni and one Columbia College alumnus. Theatre alumnus Pavol Liska ’05 has been awarded a fellowship in Drama & Performance Art; Todd Chandler (CC ’97) and Visual Arts alumna Samantha Nye ’18 in Film-Video; Visual Arts alumni Pamela Council ’14, Betsy Damon ’66, and Jessica Segall ’10 in Fine Arts; Writing Alumna Kao Kalia Yang ’05 in General Nonfiction; and Visual Arts alumnus Tony Chirinos ’03 in Photography.
"I am honored to be part of a cohort of such exceptional artists and eager to get to work. I am also grateful for the ongoing conversations, friendships, networks, and support from my time at Columbia," said Segall, a multimedia artist who explores the intersection of humans and the natural world.
The Guggenheim Fellowship is a highly competitive and prestigious award that recognizes outstanding achievement and promise in the arts and humanities. Fellows are chosen based on their past accomplishments and potential to contribute to their field in the future. This year, the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation received nearly 2,500 applications, selecting only 171 scholars, artists, and writers from various disciplines.
See a full list of 2023 fellows here.
