Arts and Letters

On Wednesday, May 23, 2018, the Academy held its annual Ceremonial in its auditorium in Washington Heights, New York City. Over $1.3 million in awards and prizes in Architecture, Visual Arts, Literature, and Music were presented to 76 recipients, and 16 new members were inducted. Paula Kerger delivered the keynote address; Virginia Dajani received the Award for Distinguished Service to the Arts; Thomas Pynchon received the Christopher Lightfoot Walker Award; Marina Adams received the Award of Merit Medal for Painting; John Adams and Ron Chernow received Gold Medals; and David Sedaris received the Academy’s Medal for Spoken Language.