Mildred Howard Wins Artists’ Legacy Foundation Award
Anonymous Was A Woman's environmental art grants, Art Gallery of Ontario director steps down, Alex Katz on PBS, and more in Art Movements.
Art Movements, published every Thursday afternoon, is a roundup of must-know news, appointments, awards, and other art-world happenings.
A Major Milestone for Mildred Howard
The Artists’ Legacy Foundation announced that Mildred Howard is the recipient of its 2026 Artist Award, an unrestricted $25,000 prize bestowed annually to a major painter or sculptor whose work “shows evidence of the hand.” Known for her public art across the Bay Area, alongside a diverse practice spanning assemblage, collage, sculpture, and installation, Howard has inspired countless people by salvaging objects and their histories to convey moving stories about the Black American experience. She has also been a beloved mentor and a pillar of her community for generations of local artists. “The journey is nothing without taking someone along with you,” Howard told Hyperallergic in 2023.
In a statement about the award, Howard said that it “was a complete surprise and it comes at the perfect time.”
“The award will assist in helping me to continue my practice,” she said. “To be able to have support in these unsettling times is crucial to most artists.”
Previous recipients of the Artist Award include Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, Howardena Pindell, and Suzan Frecon, among many others.
Art Gallery of Ontario Director Steps Down
Stephan Jost is departing from his role as director and CEO of the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) after a decade. Among his achievements, Jost helped secure over $500M in gifts of art and funds and led a major expansion of the museum's modern and contemporary exhibition space, according to a press statement. His tenure is also marked by major controversies and upheaval, including labor strikes and allegations of censorship after AGO reneged on a joint acquisition of a Nan Goldin artwork because of her public support for Gaza.
