Praemium Imperiale awards honor Jenny Holzer and Andy Goldsworthy

Five recipients have been named for Japan’s 37th Praemium Imperiale awards, a prestigious international prize often referred to as the ‘Nobel Prize of the Arts.’ Each laureate will receive 15 million yen, approximately $95,000.

Artists Jenny Holzer and Andy Goldsworthy were selected for the painting and sculpture categories, respectively. Holzer is recognized for her text-based works exploring power, memory, and justice, while Goldsworthy is acclaimed for large-scale installations using natural, often ephemeral, materials.

Other winners include Academy Award-winning actor Cate Blanchett, architect Daniel Libeskind, and 99-year-old conductor Herbert Blomstedt. The awards honor lifetime contributions across painting, sculpture, architecture, music, and theater/film.