The Harold and Arlene Schnitzer Prize in the Visual Arts
The Harold and Arlene Schnitzer Prize in the Visual Arts is presented to current MIT students, undergraduate and graduate, for excellence in a body of work in the visual arts. Students submit an artistic portfolio for consideration.
Portfolios are evaluated based upon the coherence and scope of the body of work, as demonstrated by the clarity of inquiry or vision; quality of execution of artistic product; command of medium; use of materials, including technology, computation, fabrication, and research; and demonstrated ability of the artist to contribute to and impact artistic conversations and practices at MIT and beyond.
A generous endowment allows for the award of up to three Graduate Student prizes of $5,000, and up to one undergraduate prize of $2,500. Recipients also participate in a joint exhibition in the Wiesner Student Art Gallery (in 2023 this exhibition will be presented in digital format).
The Harold and Arlene Schnitzer Prize in the Visual Arts was established in 1996 through the generosity of Harold and Arlene Schnitzer of Portland, Oregon. Schnitzer, a real estate investor, graduated from MIT in 1944 with a degree in metallurgy.
Applications for the 2023 Schnitzer Prize are now open and may be accessed via SlideRoom.
For more information, please contact council-arts@mit.edu
2022
Christopher Joshua Benton
Graduate Student in the Program in Art, Culture and Technology at MIT
Kwan Q Li
Graduate Student in the Program in Art, Culture and Technology at MIT
Irmandy Wicaksono
PhD Candidate in Media Arts and Sciences
Read an article about the 2022 Schnitzer Prize recipients.
2021
First Prize: Po-Hao Chi
Graduate Student in the Program in Art, Culture and Technology at MIT
Second Prize: Chucho Ocampo
Graduate Student in the Program in Art, Culture and Technology at MIT
Third Prize: Carolyn Tam
Graduate Student in Architecture
Honorable Mention: Nina Lutz
Graduate Student in Media Arts and Sciences
Read an article about the 2021 Schnitzer Prize recipients.
2020
First Prize: Nicole L’Huillier
Graduate Student in Media Arts and Sciences, Media Lab (Opera of the Future)
Second Prize: Rae Yuping Hsu
Graduate Student in the Program in Art, Culture and Technology at MIT
Third Prize: Jonathan Zong
Graduate Student in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence (CSAIL) Visualization Group
Honorable Mention: Elaheh Ahmadi ’20
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Read an article about the 2020 Schnitzer Prize recipients.
2019
First Prize: Guillermo Bernal
Graduate Student in Media Arts and Sciences, Media Lab (Fluid Interfaces Group)
Second Prize: Erin Genia
Graduate Student in the Art, Culture, and Technology Program (ACT)
Third Prize: Emily Toomey
Graduate Student in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Honorable Mention: Dipo Doherty
Graduate Student in Integrated Design and Management
Watch a video about the 2019 recipients of the Schnitzer Prize.
Read an article about the 2019 Schnitzer Prize recipients
2018
First Prize: Andrea Ling G, Media Lab
Second Prize: Nicolás Kisic Aguirre G, ACT
Third Prize: Brian Huang ’18, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Honorable Mention: Gary Zhexi Zhang G, ACT
Watch a video about the 2018 recipients of the Schnitzer Prize.
Read an article about the 2018 Schnitzer Prize recipients
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.
2015
First Prize: Tsz Wai Alan Kwan G
Second Prize: Elaine Kung ’15
Third Prize: Lan Li G
Honorable Mention: Jia Zhang G
Read more about the 2015 Schnitzer Prize recipients.
Alan Kwan’s Shadow Donation.
2014
First Prize: Anne Macmillan G
Second Prize: Sophia Brueckner G
Third Prize: Floor van de Velde G
Honorable Mention: Alison Malouf ’14
Read more about the 2014 Schnitzer Prize recipients.
Anne Macmillan’s Boxes for Rocks, photograph by Thery Mislick.
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
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.
2011
First Prize: Sarah Witt G
Second Prize: Otto Ng G
Third Prize (tie): Hannah Perner-Wilson G
Third Prize (tie): Sohin Hwang G
2011 Schnitzer Exhibition poster, designed by Sarah Witt.
2010
First Prize: Richard The G
Second Prize: Jaekyung Jung G
Third Prize: Sam Kronick ’10
Richard The’s Appeel, photograph by Willy Sengewald.
2009
First Prize: Matthew Mazzotta G
Second Prize: Jay Silver G
Third Prize: Jess Wheelock G
Honorable Mention: Leah Brunetto ’12
2009 Schnitzer Exhibition poster, designed by Matthew Mazzotta.
2008
First Prize: Caitlin Berrigan G
Second Prize: Mary Hale G
Third Prize (tie): Sabrina Kleinenhammans G
Third Prize (tie): Talieh Rohani G
2008 Schnitzer Exhibition poster, designed by Caitlin Berrigan.
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.
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.
2005
First Prize: Luis Berrios-Negron G
Second Prize: Andrew Brooks G
Third Prize: Cecilia Ramos ’05
Honorable Mention: Barry Kudrowitz G
Luis Berríos-Negrón’s Seth Enslow doing Playa Azul Peru, 2003.
2004
First Prize: Christopher Coryn Kempster G
Second Prize: Lisa Bidlingmeyer G
Third Prize: Neils Cosman ’04
Coryn Kempster’s Take Off My Tie.
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).
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.
2001
First Prize: Marin K. Clark G
Second Prize: Sloan A. Kulper ’03
Third Prize: Changhuei Yang G
Marin Clark’s Greece 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.
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.
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.
1997
First Prize: Francisco Ortiz G
Second Prize: Benjamin Matteo ’97
Third Prize: Xingheng Wang ’99
Francisco Ortiz’s Women.
1996
First Prize: Christopher Moore G
Second Prize: Brant Chamberlain ’97
Third Prize: Eto Otitigbe ’99
Christopher Moore’s Reflected Grid Vase (detail).