The High Museum of Art in Atlanta honored artist Alison Saar with the 2025 David C. Driskell Prize, a national award celebrating contributions to African American art. The gala featured a live performance by musician John Legend, a bespoke award designed by David Yurman, and drew Atlanta tastemakers, arts leaders, and cultural figures. Saar joins past recipients including Amy Sherald, Mark Bradford, and Rashid Johnson.
The Driskell Prize marks two decades as the first national award recognizing African American art scholarship and practice. Saar’s acceptance speech underscored the award’s role in empowering Black artists and art historians amid threats to civil rights milestones. The event also previewed the High Museum’s upcoming 2026 retrospective of Amy Sherald’s work, reinforcing the museum’s commitment to African American art and the prize’s ongoing influence.