Tlingit Unangax̂ Artist Nicholas Galanin has been awarded the 2024 Don Tyson Award for the Advancement of American Art from the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. Prize money includes a $200,000 cash award.
The Don Tyson Award was established in 2016 to recognize an individual or collective in the United States working in any medium. The award was established by the Tyson family in memory of the late Don Tyson, former chairman and CEO of Tyson Foods. Past American artists who have won the award include Deborah Willis in 2022 and Vanessa German in 2018.
“Nicholas Galanin’s work is a celebration of the rich cultural heritage, spirituality and deep connection to Indigenous lands,” said Olivia Tyson, president of the Tyson Family Foundation. “We are inspired by his talent and are delighted to award him the fifth Don Tyson Award. He is a bold artist who creates thought-provoking work. Nicholas has impacted the field through innovation, creative thinking and risk-taking ”
Kalanin was born in Sitka, Alaska in 1979, and began to study art creation at a young age. At the age of 14, he learned jewelry making and engraving from his father and grandfather. He received his formal art education at Guildhall University in London, where he graduated with a BA in Art in 2003. He continued his studies at Massey University in New Zealand, where he received an MFA in 2007.
Garanin’s practice spans multiple media, including sculpture, video, music, and performance, often blending traditional Tlingit craftsmanship with contemporary themes. His work is known to criticize colonialism and address pressing social and environmental issues. Many of these works recreate historical narratives and celebrate Aboriginal knowledge. This recognition from Crystal Bridges highlights Galanin’s impact on the art world and his contribution to expanding the narrative of American art.
“My work seeks to disrupt colonial frameworks while celebrating Indigenous presence, knowledge and creativity,” says Galanin. “This recognition fuels my ongoing efforts to create art that inspires conversation, retells narratives, and envisions a future where culture, land, and identity are protected and celebrated.”
Galanin’s current exhibition, “Existing at the Width of a Knife,” is on view at the Baltimore Museum of Art through February 16, 2025. Most recently, he exhibited a site-specific installation in Fenner Beach during Art Basel Miami. This work is called Seletega (run to see if someone is coming) (2024), represents a buried Spanish galleon with only the mast and sails visible, symbolizing the failed empire. His work has also been exhibited globally, including at the Sydney Biennial, Whitney Biennial and Santa Fe Heritage. Since 2019 he has been represented by Peter Blum Gallery.
