Earlier today, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation announced the 2016 recipients of their annual fellowship awards, known by many colloquially as the “Genius Grants.” The honor comes with a no-strings stipend of $625,000, paid out quarterly over the course of five years. Among the 23 fellows, three come with heavy art-world pedigree: Kellie Jones, Vincent Fecteau, and Mary Reid Kelley.
Jones is an art historian, curator, and an associate professor in Columbia University’s art history and archaeology program. Fecteau is based in San Francisco and makes abstract sculptures out of materials like papier-mâché and cardboard. Reid Kelley lives in Olivebridge, New York, and specializes in video art that explores women’s history with a lo-fi aesthetic.
The winners “are breaking new ground in areas of public concern, in the arts, and in the sciences, often in unexpected ways. Their creativity, dedication, and impact inspire us all,” MacArthur Foundation president Julia Stasch said in a statement.