Crystal Bridges is excited to announce Tyler Mitchell as the sixth recipient of the Don Tyson Prize for the Advancement of American Art. The biennial prize, which carries an unrestricted $200,000 cash award, celebrates meaningful contributions to the field of American art. Past winners include Nicholas Galanin (Tlingit-Unangax̂) (2024), Deborah Willis (2022), Project Row Houses (2020), vanessa german (2018), and the Archives of American Art (2016).

“Our selection of Tyler Mitchell reflects the profound impact of his practice and the distinctive place his work holds in contemporary culture,” said Rod Bigelow, Executive Director of Crystal Bridges. “Through photography, film, publishing, fashion, and exhibition-making, Mitchell has created images and experiences that reach audiences well beyond traditional museum spaces.”

Tyler Mitchell (b. 1995, Atlanta; BFA, NYU Tisch, 2017) is an artist, photographer, and filmmaker based in Brooklyn. He constructs images that offer new narratives about beauty and desire, exploring the intersection of historical themes and fictionalized future possibilities. Mitchell’s aesthetic is defined by a portrayal of Black life that foregrounds tenderness, camaraderie, and self-determination, frequently drawing inspiration from the pastoral landscapes and domestic scenes of his suburban Georgia youth. In 2018, he made history as the first Black photographer to shoot the cover of American Vogue, for Beyoncé’s appearance in the September issue.

Crystal Bridges and The Tyson family established the award in 2016 in honor of the late Don Tyson, former chairman and CEO of Tyson Foods. The Tyson family has a long-standing relationship with Crystal Bridges, including endowing the museum’s Tyson Scholars of American Art program. Tyson Foods Chairman and son of Don Tyson, John H. Tyson, is also an original member of the Crystal Bridges board, and Olivia Tyson, daughter of John, is involved with work across Crystal Bridges and the Momentary.

Learn more in the above-linked press release.

—

A preview of works by Tyler Mitchell is below. See the Dropbox folder linked above to download high-resolution image files. Image reuse must be exclusively in association with editorial coverage of the award; all images are copyright of Tyler Mitchell and courtesy of the artist and Gagosian.