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.

Up to four prizes will be awarded. Graduate student applicants will be eligible for first place ($5,000) and second place ($3,000) awards. Undergraduate student applicants will be eligible for first place ($2,500) and second place ($1,500) awards. 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 2021 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.

Applications consist of a portfolio and artist’s statement submitted through SlideRoom until March 26, 2021. The staff of the Council for the Arts at MIT is available to answer questions about preparation of applications materials: council-arts@mit.edu.

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

Installation view of sonic sculpture inside colorful CERN in the LHC ALICE Detector in Switzerland.
2020 Harold and Arlene Schnitzer Prize in the Visual Arts First Place Winner Nicole L'Huillier's El Poema de la Fábrica Cósmica. Image courtesy of the artist.

2020

First Prize: Nicole L’Huillier, G, Media Lab (Opera of the Future)
Second Prize: Rae Yuping Hsu G, ACT
Third Prize: Jonathan Zong G,  Visualization Group, CSAIL
Honorable Mention: Elaheh Ahmadi ’20, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Honorable Mention: Siranush Babakhanova ’20, Physics

Read an article about the 2020 Schnitzer Prize recipients.

Visit the online exhibition

An artist sits in a dark room next to a spotlight projection.
2017 Schnitzer First Prize Recipient Ani Liu's Mind Controlled Spermatozoa, 2017.

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.

A gallery wall of photographs.
Installation of photographs by Qiuying Lai, 2016 Schnitzer Prize Recipient.

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.