Neuberger Museum of Art Announces 2019 Winner of the Roy R. Neuberger Prize

Tracy Fitzpatrick, Director of the Neuberger Museum of Art, announced today that the Museum’s 2019 Roy R. Neuberger Prize, now carrying an honorarium of $25,000, has been awarded to Yto Barrada, an internationally-­acclaimed French-­Moroccan multi-­media artist. In addition to the cash award, an exhibition of her work Yto Barrada: The Dye Garden, will be on view for the first time in the United States at the Neuberger Museum of Art from September 25 – December 22, 2019.
 
Ms. Barrada was selected from a long list of candidates nominated by the Roy R. Neuberger Prize Advisory Panel, consisting of the museum’s director and curators, and various faculty at Purchase College. Prior prizewinners are Tania Bruguera, Leandro Erlich, Robin Rhode, and Dana Schutz. Winners of the Prize embody outstanding artistic achievement that inspires innovative thinking, fresh perspectives, and greater understanding and appreciation of the arts. A belief in the artist’s promise and creative achievement to date also are factors, the goal being to support and encourage the next generation of artists. In addition to the cash prize, winners have the opportunity to work with the Museum on a special exhibition and accompanying catalogue.
 
Yto Barrada: The Dye Garden originated at the American Academy in Rome. This presentation of the exhibition is co-­organized by the Neuberger Museum of Art and the American Academy in Rome. The exhibition is co-­curated by Helaine Posner, Chief Curator at the Neuberger Museum, and Peter Benson Miller, Curator and former Andrew Heiskell Arts Director at the American Academy.
 
This biennial Prize reflects the historical mission of Roy R. Neuberger, the Museum’s founding patron, who had a lifelong commitment to support the work of living artists. The Prize was originally funded by Roy R. Neuberger and first made public in November, 2008, at a celebration of Mr. Neuberger’s 105th birthday. Mr. Neuberger’s son, Jim Neuberger, and his wife Helen Stambler Neuberger, who are actively involved with the museum and serve on the Board of the Friends of the Neuberger Museum of Art, carry on that legacy today.
 
“The support of innovative, international art and artists is a major institutional priority and the Neuberger Prize significantly advances this mission,” notes Dr. Fitzpatrick.
 
Yto Barrada, who was born in Paris and raised in Tangier, had her first solo exhibition in 2003 at the Galerie Polaris, Paris. Since then, her work has been featured in exhibitions at the Jeu de Paume, Paris (2006); Venice Biennale (2007, 2011); and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (2009), among other venues. In 2011, she received Deutsche Bank’s Artist of the Year Award. According to Ms. Posner, Barrada’s wide-­‐ranging intelligence and global perspective inform her work in a variety of media including photography, film, sculpture, and hand-­‐dyed textiles. She creates aesthetically compelling images and objects and tackles serious sociopolitical and cultural issues leavened with humor.” Barrada now lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.

The Neuberger Museum of Art opened on the campus of Purchase College, State University of New York, in 1974 with a core collection donated by Roy R. Neuberger, one of the greatest private collectors, philanthropists, and arts advocates of the twentieth century. Today, critically acclaimed exhibitions, tours, lectures, and interactive programs for patrons of all ages make the Neuberger a center of teaching and learning for all stages of life.