Mission

The Vilcek Foundation raises awareness of immigrant contributions in the United States, and fosters appreciation of the arts and sciences.

We are committed to diversity and inclusive exchange. Through our prizes, grantmaking, and art collection, we celebrate immigrant artists and scientists, and cultural leaders who strengthen our society.

Learn more about what we do

Prizes

2026 Vilcek Foundation Prizes

The Vilcek Foundation proudly celebrates two decades of recognizing the immigrants and individuals whose work advances the arts and sciences. Fourteen outstanding prizewinners are being honored this year for their achievements in biomedical research, fashion, and art history.

Meet the prizewinners

Marica Vilcek Prize in Art History

Inspired by Marica Vilcek’s career in art history and her legacy in the arts, the Marica Vilcek Prize in Art History honors art historians, curators, and fine arts professionals whose work has a profound impact on their institutions, in their scholarship, and on arts and culture in general.

Read about the art history prize

Art

Abstract Sea Form

1969 Tadashi Sato
A white orb floats above a spotted orange and black plant-like figure against a blue background.

Trinity

1945/1988 Isamu Noguchi
A black metal sculpture in a gallery space.

Derricks

c. 1939 Ralston Crawford

Hot Lava #1

1975 Tadashi Sato
A painting depicting lava come from a volcano with a blue sky, and streaks of red and black.

IW-2201

2022 Il Lee
A black background covered with white squiggly shapes that are denser at the top of the canvas and disperse at the bottom.

Tropic Fantasy

1935-36 Marsden Hartley
A painting of fish in white, pink, reds, and blues.

Lazarus

2019 Nari Ward
Shoelaces installed on a wall forming the words tired, poor, refuse, huddled, yearning, homeless, wretched, tempest-tost

SBL-1601

2016 Il Lee
Blue pen sketched on paper to form a circular shape that gradually becomes lighter in color as the pen strokes spread out from the middle.

Events

Exhibition

Il Lee—Energy and Flow: Abstraction of Movements

May 29, 2025 - April 29, 2026 21 E 70th St
New York, NY 10021

Il Lee is widely acclaimed for his large-scale abstract compositions, created through the intricate use of numerous ballpoint pens on paper and canvas.

Learn about the exhibition
Overlapping white lines on a dark background. The lines form an abstracted cluster along the top of the artwork, densely packed in the middle and loosening toward the edges, creating a sense of motion and intensity.

News

February 2, 2026

Vilcek Foundation Honors 20th Group of Immigrants and Visionaries

The Vilcek Foundation Prizes have highlighted immigrant contributions to the United States since 2006, awarding nearly $10 million to the creative individuals whose work shapes culture and society.
2026 Vilcek Foundation Prizes
December 1, 2025

25 Years Uplifting Immigrants, the Arts, and Sciences

Throughout the past quarter century, the Vilcek Foundation has awarded $17 million in prizes and grants to immigrants and cultural leaders whose work enriches American society.
A collage-style image with three women in different settings, each overlaid with radiating pink graphic lines. At left, a woman holds up a test tube in a lab. At right, a woman stands outdoors in a mountainous landscape, wearing a patterned jacket. At bottom left, a woman speaks or sings into a microphone. All three are shown against a bright pink background with circular photo frames.
May 27, 2025

Il Lee—Energy and Flow: Abstraction of Movements

The Vilcek Foundation presents "Il Lee—Energy and Flow: Abstraction of Movements," a solo exhibition of Korean artist Il Lee.
A black background covered with white squiggly shapes that are denser at the top of the canvas and disperse at the bottom.
February 2, 2026

Two Brothers Create Bold Images Celebrating Beauty of Color

Discover how Jalan and Jibril Durimel’s photography philosophy is shaped by their immigrant experiences.
Jalan and Jibril Durimel collaborating outdoors, one holding a camera while the other gestures to frame a shot in warm evening light.
February 2, 2026

Tanya Meléndez-Escalante: Uplifting Latinx Culture Through Fashion Education

The fashion educator develops multicultural programs through her curations at the Museum at FIT.
Tanya Meléndez-Escalante standing inside a museum gallery with fashion displays in the background during an exhibition at The Museum at FIT in New York City.
February 2, 2026

Peter Do Makes Fashion Accessible

Born in Vietnam, Peter Do is celebrated for his ability to create elegant, minimalist clothing designs inspired by the everyday woman.
Fashion designer Peter Do standing in his studio beside a mannequin.
February 2, 2026

Natalie Nudell: Fashion is founded by immigrants

Winner of the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise, Nudell built the Fashion Calendar Research Database to showcase how underrepresented communities are integral to the industry.
February 2, 2026

Matthew Bogdanos: A Relentless Defender of Cultural Heritage

Matthew Bogdanos is honored for his life-long dedication to preserve cultural artifacts.
February 2, 2026

Marcelo Gutierrez: From Refugee to Fashion’s Boldest Makeup Artist

Learn more about Gutierrez’s approach to creating makeup artistry that reimagines conventional beauty standards.
February 2, 2026

Berna Sozen: A Journey Unlocking Early Human Development

In her breakthrough research, Sozen created 3-D models that help to explain the processes underlying embryonic formation.
Berna Sozen seated and smiling at a lab bench in her Yale Medical School lab.