Painter Jordan Casteel has been awarded the highly coveted MacArthur 'Genius Grant'.
Awarded annually by the Chicago-based MacArthur Foundation, the grant recognises the far-reaching influence of its 25 recipients, of which Casteel is the youngest.
Painting intimate portraits of friends, family, or strangers in her Harlem community, Casteel has been heralded for her vibrant and honest evocations of underrepresented subjects.
Since receiving her MFA from Yale School of Art in 2014, Casteel's paintings have graced the walls of art institutions worldwide, including a 2020 solo show at the New Museum, New York. Last year, the artist was also commissioned to paint a portrait of designer and activist Aurora James for Vogue's September issue.
On receiving the prize, Casteel took to Instagram to voice her reaction to the news, expressing, 'It genuinely stopped me in my tracks—laid me flat—had me confused—and brought me to tears'.
