The Distinguished Alumni Award is presented in recognition of outstanding artistic achievement. Collectively, recipients are intended to reflect the diversity of the alumni body. The Alumni Association established the award in 2003 and an icon familiar to all who have been formed by this institution: the Winged Victory of Samothrace. Since the Winged Victory, or Nike, entered PAFA’s cast collection in 1894, thousands of American artists have learned basic skills in all disciplines by studying its subtleties. The Nike is a bridge and an inspiration to the future achievements of all alumni. The award was sculpted by longtime PAFA instructor, Tony Visco, the bronze reduction of the Nike is cast by PAFA students.
The recipient is selected by vote of the Alumni Association Council. Nominees must be alumni of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, not currently enrolled as a student, and have satisfactorily completed at least one year of any PAFA degree-granting or certificate program: Certificate, BFA, MFA, Low Residency MFA, or Post-Baccalaureate Certificate. Alumni currently serving as a member of the PAFA faculty are ineligible.
Previous Recipients include:
2022 Moe Brooker
2021 Aaron Fowler
2020 Clarity Haynes
2019 Jody Pinto
2018 Quentin Morris
2017 Anne Minich
2016 Njideka Akunyili Crosby
2015 James Havard
2014 Ray Saunders
2013 Elizabeth Osbourne
2012 Clarence Morgan
2011 Frank Bender
2010 Orit Hofshi
2009 Barkley Hendricks
2008 Edna Andrade
2007 Sarah McEneaney
2006 Bill Scott
2005 Louis B. Sloan
2004 Arthur DeCosta
2003 Ben Kamihira
