The Harold and Arlene Schnitzer Prize in the Visual Arts

The Harold and Arlene Schnitzer Prize in the Visual Arts is awarded to MIT students for excellence in a body of artistic work. All currently registered MIT students (graduate and undergraduate) are eligible to apply.

The Schnitzer Prize was established in 1996 through an endowment from Harold and Arlene Schnitzer of Portland, Oregon. Harold Schnitzer, a real estate investor, graduated from MIT in 1944 with a degree in metallurgy.

Three prizes will be awarded: first ($5,000), second ($3,000); and third ($2,000). In some cases, honorable mentions may also be awarded. The Selection Committee, comprised of members of the Council for the Arts at MIT and members of the MIT visual arts community, evaluates applications based on the level of excellence displayed in the applicant’s body of work.

Recipients of the 2020 Schnitzer Prize will be featured in a Wiesner Student Art Gallery group digital exhibition. Prize-winners will subsequently have the opportunity to exhibit their work in a Wiesner Student Art Gallery group show based on discussions of logistics and scheduling with the Gallery curator.

Required Application Materials:

1) Completed application form
2) Video artist’s statement, no more than 2 minutes in length
3) Portfolio of up to 4 items (images, PDF, video).

Recommended Application Materials:

Applicants are encouraged to submit an additional curated selection of their work by providing a link to an exterior website.

The deadline to submit portfolio applications is April 24, 2020.

 

Apply for the 2020 Schnitzer Prize

For more information, please contact council-arts@mit.edu

2017

First Prize: Ani Liu G, Course 4 (Media Arts and Sciences)
Second Prize: Angel Chia Ling Chen G, Course 4 (Art, Culture and Technology)
Third Prize: Jessica Sarah Rinland G, Course 4 (Art, Culture and Technology)
Honorable Mention: Edwina Portocarrero G, Course 4 (Media Arts and Sciences)
Honorable Mention: Anne Marie Graziano G, Course 4 (Architecture)

 

Read more about the 2017 Schnitzer Prize recipients.

Ani Liu’s Mind Controlled Spermatozoa.

Watch a video about the 2018 recipients of the Schnitzer Prize.

2016

First Prize: Joshuah Jest G, Course 4 (Art, Culture and Technology)
Second Prize (tie): Laura Perovich G, Course 4 (Media Arts and Sciences)
Second Prize (tie): Emily Tow G, Course 2 (Mechanical Engineering)
Third Prize: Chris Kerich G, Course 21W (Comparative Media Studies/Writing)
Honorable Mention: Qiuying Lai ’17, Course 6 (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science)
Honorable Mention: Deniz Tortum G, Course 21W (Comparative Media Studies/Writing)

Read more about the 2016 Schnitzer Prize recipients.

Installation of photographs by Qiuying Lai in the Wiesner Student Art Gallery.

Image: Jie Qi

2013

First Prize: Jie Qi G
Second Prize: Rizal Muslimin G
Third Prize (tie): Floor van de Velde G
Third Prize (tie): Amit Zoran G
Honorable Mention: Xiao Xiao G

Jie Qi’s Dandelions, photograph by Jason Pastorello.

2012 Schnitzer exhibition, photograph by Greg Kuperman.

2012

First Prize: Matthew Everett Lawson G
Second Prize: Narda Alvarado G
Third Prize: Nathan Lachenmyer G
Honorable Mention: Emily Tow ’12
Honorable Mention: Elizabeth Anne Watkins G

2012 Schnitzer Exhibition, installation photograph by Greg Kuperman.

Appeel, installation by Richard The, photograph by Willy Sengewald.

2010

First Prize: Richard The G
Second Prize: Jaekyung Jung G
Third Prize: Sam Kronick ’10

Richard The’s Appeel, photograph by Willy Sengewald.

MIT pre-frosh pose with spoons made from molds of their tongues, part of Hope GInsburg

2007

First Prize: Hope Ginsburg G
Second Prize (tie): Katherine James G
Second Prize (tie): Neri Oxman G
Honorable Mention: Stephanie Hsu G

Hope Ginsburg’s Sponge project.

Detail of 2006 Schnitzer exhibition poster, designed by Lira Nikolovska, photograph by Kate Kunath

2006

First Prize: Lira Nikolovska G
Second Prize: Oliver Lutz G
Third Prize: Azra Aksamija G
Honorable Mention: Jeffrey Dahmus G
Honorable Mention: Rene Chen ’07

2006 Schnitzer Exhibition poster, designed by Lira Nikolovska.

From the N Train at Dusk (detail), by Moneto Ho.

2003

First Prize: Moneta Ho G
Second Prize: Nadya Direkova G
Third Prize: Joyce Wang ’04

Moneto Ho’s From the N Train at Dusk (detail).

Detail from 2002 exhibition poster, by Jacqueline Martino.

2002

First Prize: Jacquelyn A. Martino G
Second Prize: Augustine M. Urbas G
Third Prize: Cecilia Ramos ’05
Honorable Mention: Nicole A. Vlado ’02

2002 Schnitzer Exhibition poster, designed by Jacquelyn A. Martino.

Greece 2000, photograph by Marin Clark

2001

First Prize: Marin K. Clark G
Second Prize: Sloan A. Kulper ’03
Third Prize: Changhuei Yang G

Marin Clark’s Greece 2000.

Schnitzer exhibition poster with detail of A Small Bird, by Hiep Nguyen, 2000.

2000

First Prize: Hiep Nguyen G
Second Prize: Vitaly J. Napadow G
Third Prize: Changhuei Yang G

2000 Schnitzer Exhibition poster with detail of Hiep Nguyen’s A Small Bird, 2000.

Colombian Fishermen (detail), photograph by Richard Fletcher.

1999

First Prize: Richard R. Fletcher G
Second Prize: Matthew D. Hollingworth G
Third Prize: Vince E. Carballo ’01

Colombian Fishermen (detail), photograph by Richard R. Fletcher.

Eto Otitigbe

1998

First Prize: Eto S. Otitigbe ’99
Second Prize: Kevin Simmons ’98
Third Prize: Kim Eng ’99

Eto Otitigbe ’99, 1998 Schnitzer First Prize Recipient, photograph by Gabor Csányi.

Women, a painting by by Francisco Ortiz.

1997

First Prize: Francisco Ortiz G
Second Prize: Benjamin Matteo ’97
Third Prize: Xingheng Wang ’99

Francisco Ortiz’s Women.

Reflected Grid Vase (detail), by Christopher Moore

1996

First Prize: Christopher Moore G
Second Prize: Brant Chamberlain ’97
Third Prize: Eto Otitigbe ’99

Christopher Moore’s Reflected Grid Vase (detail).