The MacArthur Foundation has announced the 2024 MacArthur Fellowships, awarding 22 individuals across various fields the prestigious honor, commonly known as the “Genius Grant.” Among this year’s fellows are four visual artists: Wendy Red Star, Ebony G. Patterson, Tony Cokes, and Justin Vivian Bond, each recognized for their groundbreaking contributions to contemporary art.
Wendy Red Star, an Apsáalooke (Crow) artist, was honored for her work that engages with archival materials to challenge historical colonial narratives. Through her multidisciplinary practice, Red Star reinterprets objects from museums, archives, and her own family’s history, offering a fresh perspective on Native American identity and heritage.
Ebony G. Patterson, a Jamaican-born multimedia artist, was recognized for her lush, embellished works that explore themes of visibility, postcolonial identity, and mourning. Patterson’s work incorporates vibrant textiles, beads, and found objects to create immersive installations that invite viewers to engage with the histories she examines. She was also featured in the Artsy Vanguard 2019.
Tony Cokes, a media artist known for his stark text-based video works, was also awarded the fellowship. Cokes’s work interrogates the relationship between media, culture, and power, using text, music, and found footage. His work critiques dominant narratives and explores issues of race, politics, and global capitalism.
Lastly, Justin Vivian Bond, a performer and cabaret artist, was acknowledged for their genre-defying performances that weave together history, activism, and queer identity. Bond’s work transcends traditional boundaries, celebrating LGBTQ+ communities while challenging societal norms through humor and poignant storytelling.
