Es Devlin awarded Eugene McDermott Award in the Arts

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is pleased to announce that artist and designer Es Devlin is the recipient of the 2025 Eugene McDermott Award in the Arts at MIT. The 100K USD prize awarded at a gala in her honor also includes an artist residency at MIT in spring 2025, during which Es Devlin will present her work in a lecture open to the public on May 1, 2025. Es Devlin’s work explores biodiversity, linguistic diversity and collective AI-generated poetry, all areas that also are being explored within the MIT community. She is known for public art and installations at major museums such as the Tate Modern, kinetic stage designs for the Metropolitan Opera, the Super Bowl, and the Olympics, as well as monumental stage sculptures for large scale stadium concerts. 

Es Devlin’s remarks upon receiving the award: “I am always most energized by works I have not yet made, so I am immensely grateful to have this trust and investment in ideas I’ve yet to conceive. I’m honored to receive an award that has been granted to so many of my heroes and look forward to collaborating closely with the brilliant minds at MIT.”

The Eugene McDermott Award in the Arts at MIT recognizes innovative artists working in any field or cross-disciplinary activity. The 100,000 USD prize represents an investment in the recipient’s future creative work, rather than a prize for a particular project or lifetime of achievement. The official announcement was made at the Council for the Arts at MIT’s 51st annual meeting at MIT on October 24, 2024. Past recipients include Santiago Calatrava, Gustavo Dudamel, Olafur Eliasson, Robert Lepage, Audra McDonald, Suzan Lori Parks, Bill Viola, and Pamela Z, among others.

From MIT Vice Provost and Ford International Professor of History Philip S. Khoury: “We look forward to presenting Es Devlin with MIT’s highest award in the arts. Her work will be an inspiration for our students studying the visual arts, theater, media, and design. Her interest in AI and the arts dovetails with a major initiative at MIT to address the societal impact of GenAI. With a new performing arts center opening this winter and a campus-wide arts festival taking place this spring, there could not be a better moment to expose MIT’s creative community to Es Devlin’s extraordinary artistic practice.” 

Campus residency and public program
A distinctive feature of the Award is a short residency at MIT, which includes a public presentation of the artist’s work, substantial interaction with students and faculty, and a gala that convenes national and international leaders in the arts. The goal of the residency is to provide the recipient with unparalleled access to the creative energy and cutting-edge research at the Institute and to develop mutually enlightening relationships in the MIT community.

About the Eugene McDermott Award in the Arts
The Eugene McDermott Award in the Arts at MIT was established in 1974 by Margaret McDermott (1912–2018) in honor of her husband, Eugene McDermott (1899–1973), a co-founder of Texas Instruments and long-time friend and benefactor of MIT. The award is presented by the Council for the Arts at MIT.

The award is bestowed upon individuals whose artistic trajectory and body of work have achieved the highest distinction in their field and indicate they will remain leaders for years to come. The award recognizes innovative talents in any arts discipline and offers its recipient a 100,000 USD cash prize and a campus residency. The McDermott Award reflects MIT’s commitment to risk-taking, problem solving, and connecting creative minds across disciplines.