The Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas has announced that German artist Isa Genzken will receive its fourth annual Nasher Prize. The New York Times writes that the prize honors achievement in sculpture and includes a monetary reward of $100,000.
Throughout her career, Genzken has worked with a multitude of mediums such as photography, video, and collages. Many of her pieces speak on historical themes such as Germany’s reconstruction or the War on Terror. They also reflect her personal battles with alcoholism, bipolar disorder, and physical injury.
Genzken’s work has been featured at the Venice Biennale, Germany’s Documenta, MOCA Chicago, and MOMA. Most recently, her 26-foot-tall steel rose entitled “Rose, III” was installed in Lower Manhattan’s Zuccotti Park.
This year’s Nasher Prize jury included British artist Phyllida Barlow and Pakistani-American sculptor Huma Bhabha. Director Jeremy Strick expressed the Center’s delight in choosing Genzken. “We’d be hard pressed to name an artist with a more textured and dynamic sculptural practice than Isa Genzken,” he said.
According to Dallas News, Strick also recognized that, even though Genzken’s being a woman was not discussed amongst the jury, gender parity remains an issue in the arts. It “is no different from any other domain in that there are still significant obstacles to the full participation and recognition of women,” he said. “There is still a tremendous amount of work to be done in including women in commercial systems, in galleries, museum collections, and exhibitions.”
Columbian sculptor Doris Salcedo is among the previous Nasher recipients. Genzken’s award ceremony is set for next April.