Alex Katz Receives Archives of American Art Medal

The Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art has revealed the distinguished honorees for its upcoming annual fall gala. At the evening celebration Sept. 16, the Archives’ highest honors will be presented to three recipients—Alex Katz, Adam D. Weinberg and Bank of America—in recognition of their contributions as leading American artists and art advocates.

“We are deeply honored to celebrate this year’s exceptional honorees who have changed the narratives of American art,” said Anne Helmreich, director of the Archives of American Art. “Their groundbreaking, pivotal contributions have made us look at and appreciate American art in new and exciting ways.”

Katz will receive an Archives of American Art Medal, Weinberg will receive the Lawrence A. Fleischman Award for Scholarly Excellence in the Field of American Art History and Bank of America will receive the Archives of American Art Award for Philanthropic Leadership. 

“Being honored by the Archives of American Art is a meaningful affirmation of the value of capturing artists’ legacies,” Katz said. “The Archives plays a vital role in preserving the voices and visions that define American art. I am grateful for this recognition and proud to be part of a community dedicated to ensuring that future generations can access and learn from our creative histories.” 

Launched in 1984, the Archives’ annual gala recognizes those who exemplify its mission to collect, preserve, and make available primary sources that document the history of American art. Past honorees include Senga Nengudi, Richard Tuttle, Ann Philbin, Chuck Close, the Ford Foundation, Agnes Gund, Roy Lichtenstein Foundation, Glenn Ligon, Richard J. Powell, Lowery Stokes Sims, and Alice L. Walton. 

The Archives of American Art, a part of the Smithsonian Institution, is the world’s largest resource dedicated to collecting, preserving and making accessible primary sources documenting the history of the visual arts in the United States. Since its founding in 1954, the Archives of American Art has collected over 30 million items that enliven the extraordinary human stories behind America’s art and artists.