NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 29, 2024 – The American Academy of Arts and Letters is pleased to announce the 19 new members who will be elected into the Departments of Architecture, Art, Literature, and Music in 2024, along with one new American Honorary member and three new Foreign Honorary members.
James Carpenter, Mack Scogin, Sharon Egretta Sutton
Matthew Barney, June Leaf, Simone Leigh, Laura Owens, Charles Ray,
Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, Henry Taylor
Charles Baxter, Margo Jefferson, Alice McDermott
Terence Blanchard, Anthony Braxton, Libby Larsen, Steven Mackey,
Roscoe Mitchell, John Williams
Rosanne Cash
Olga Tokarczuk, Rosemarie Trockel, John Tuomey
The 300 members of the American Academy of Arts and Letters are divided into Departments of Architecture, Art, Literature, and Music, and are elected in recognition of notable achievement in their fields. Members are elected for life, pay no dues, and nominate and elect new members as vacancies occur. Members oversee every aspect of the institution’s governance by serving on its Board of Directors and award selection committees. By honoring their peers through election to membership and supporting nonmember artists through awards, art purchases, and commissions, the members of Arts and Letters create a community of mutual support and recognition for artists across disciplines.
In addition, Arts and Letters includes 75 Foreign Honorary members—architects, artists, composers, and writers from outside the United States—and 20 American Honorary members whose work falls outside the membership’s traditional departments.
The 19 new members and four honorary members will be inducted into Arts and Letters during its annual Ceremonial in May. During the ceremony, Danielle Allen will deliver the keynote Blashfield Address. Allen is a professor of political philosophy, ethics, and public policy at Harvard University and Director of the Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation at Harvard Kennedy School’s Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation.
The American Academy of Arts and Letters is an honor society of artists, architects, composers, and writers who foster and sustain interest in the arts. Our 300 members distribute over $1.2 million in awards annually; fund concerts and new works of musical theater; purchase and commission contemporary art for donation to museums across the country; and present exhibitions, talks, and events for the public at our historic buildings in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City.
Media Inquiries
Ashley Fedor
(212) 368-5900
academy@artsandletters.org
Architecture
James Carpenter, architect and light artist of New York
Mack Scogin, architect of Georgia
Sharon Egretta Sutton, architect of New York
Art
Matthew Barney, artist of New York
June Leaf, artist of New York and Nova Scotia
Simone Leigh, artist of New York
Laura Owens, artist of California
Charles Ray, artist of California
Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, artist of New Mexico
Henry Taylor, artist of California
Literature
Charles Baxter, writer of Minnesota
Margo Jefferson, writer of New York
Alice McDermott, writer of Washington, D.C.
Music
Terence Blanchard, composer of Louisiana
Anthony Braxton, composer of Connecticut
Libby Larsen, composer of Minnesota
Steven Mackey, composer of New Jersey
Roscoe Mitchell, composer of Wisconsin
John Williams, composer of California
American Honorary Membership
Rosanne Cash, singer/songwriter of New York
Foreign Honorary Membership
Olga Tokarczuk, writer of Poland
Rosemarie Trockel, artist of Germany
John Tuomey, architect of Ireland
For prior news announcements please write to info@artsandletters.org.