Cranbrook Academy of Art

Row 1 from left to right: McArthur Binion, Annabeth Rosen, Peter Bohlin. Row 2 from left to right: Ruth Adler Schnee, Tiff Massey. Row 3 from left to right: Niels Diffrient, Nick Cave, Gere Kavanaugh.

Cranbrook Academy of Art

Cranbrook Academy of Art

Award-Winning Alumni and Artists-in-Residence

Cranbrook Academy of Art alumni are among the most distinguished and innovative artists, designers, and architects around the world.

Academy alumni have received the most prestigious awards, fellowships, and grants in the U.S. and internationally. These include the U.S. National Medal of Arts, AIGA Medal, AIA Gold Medal, AIA 25-year Award, Cooper Hewitt National Design Award, The Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Award, Guggenheim Fellowship, Kresge Eminent Artis Award, and U.S. Fulbright Grant.

In addition, the Academy recognizes its alumni at any career level with the Distinguished Alumni Award. Honorary MFA degrees are granted in exceptional cases of creatives or supporters who have made an impact on our community or the world.

Cranbrook Academy of Art Distinguished Alumni

The Distinguished Alumni Award is one of the highest honors bestowed by the Academy and recognizes graduates who have demonstrated creativity, innovation, leadership, and vision through their contributions to the practices of architecture, art, and design, as well as to Cranbrook Academy of Art.

2019 Gere Kavanaugh Design ’52
2018 Annabeth Rosen Ceramics ’81
2017 McArthur Binion Painting ’73
2015 Ruth Adler Schnee Design ’46
2014 Ed Fella Design ’87
2013 Donald Lipski Ceramics ’73
2012 Anne Wilson Fiber ’72
2011 Peter Bohlin Architecture ’61
2006 Niels Diffrient Design ’54

The U.S. National Medal of the Arts

The National Medal of Arts is the highest award given to artists and arts patrons by the United States government. These individuals, through their creativity, inspiration, and hard work, have significantly enriched the cultural life of our nation.

2002 Florence Knoll Bassett Student, Department of Architecture, 1934–1935, 1936–1937, 1939

AIGA Medalists

The medal of AIGA is awarded to individuals in recognition of their exceptional achievements in the advancement of the field of design as a respected craft, strategic advantage, and vital cultural force. Medals have been awarded to individuals who have set standards of excellence over a lifetime of work or have made individual contributions to innovation within the practice of design.

2022 Andrew Blauvelt Design ’88
2017 Nancy Skolos and Tom Wedell Skolos: BFA Design ’77; Wedell: Photography ’77
2016 Gere Kavanaugh Design ’52
2013 Lucille Tenazas Design ’81
2010 Steve Frykholm Design ’69
2007 Edward Fella Design ’87
2006 Lorraine Wild Design ’82
2005 Meredith Davis Design ’75
2000 P. Scott Makela and Laurie Haycock Makela both Design ’91
1999 Katherine McCoy Co-chair Design Department ‘71–‘95
1977 Charles and Ray Eames Charles: Student, Architecture, 1938–1939, CAA Instructor of Design, 1939–1941 Ray: Student, 1940–1941

American Craft Council of Fellows

Since 1970, the American Craft Council has recognized significant contributions to the field of craft. Originally designated the Award of Merit, in 1975 the ACC adopted the distinction of Fellow of the Council, the body of awardees known collectively as the College of Fellows. Election to the College of Fellows continues to this day, the award a commitment “to honor those who have made an outstanding contribution to the crafts in America.”

2016 Nick Cave Fiber ’89
2016 Myra Mimlitsch-Gray Metalsmithing ‘86
2014 Jane Lackey Fiber ’79, Fiber Artist-in-Residence 1997–2007
2008 Adela Akers Fiber ’62
2008 Tony Hepburn Ceramics Artist-in-Residence 1992-2008
2007 Arturo Sandoval Fiber ’71
2005 Gary Griffin Metalsmithing Artist-in-Residence 1984-2006
2001 Joan Livingstone Fiber ’74) Fiber Artist-in-Residence 1980-1982
2001 John Glick Ceramics ’62
2000 Anne Wilson Fiber ’72
1997 Chunghi Choo Metalsmithing ’65
1996 Jun Kaneko Ceramics Artist-In-Residence 1979-86
1995 J. Fred Woell Sculpture ’69
1995 Fred Fenster Metalsmithing ’60
1993 Gerhardt Knodel Fiber Artist-in-Residence 1970-1996, CAA Director 1996-2007
1990 Lillian Elliott Ceramics ’55
1988 Walter G. Nottingham Fiber ’68
1987 Richard DeVore Ceramics ’57
1985 Marianne Strengell Fiber Artist-in-Residence 1941-1961
1985 Richard Thomas Metalsmithing Artist-In-Residence 1948-1984
1979 William Brown Design ’50
1978 Jack Lenor Larsen Fiber ’51
1975 Ed Rossbach Ceramics ’47
1975 Toshiko Takaezu Ceramics ’54
1975 Dorothy Meredith Painting ’45

American Craft Council Gold Medal for Consummate Craftmanship

Every two years, as few as one College of Fellows member is recognized with the Gold Medal for Consummate Craftsmanship, an award for a lifetime of achievements, the highest award given by the Council and among the most prestigious in the nation. Gold Medal awardees of the College of Fellows represent the extraordinary among a field of elite craftspeople.

2016 Gerhadt Knodel Fiber Artist-in-Residence 1970-1996, CAA Director 1996-2007
2005 Fred Fenster Metalsmithing ’60
1996 Jack Lenor Larsen Fiber ’51
1994 Toshiko Takaezu Ceramics ’54
1993 Marianne Strengell Fiber Artist-in-Residence 1941-1961
1990 Ed Rossbach Ceramics ’47

American Institute of Architects (AIA) Gold Medal

The Gold Medal is the AIA’s highest annual honor, recognizing individuals whose work has had a lasting influence on the theory and practice of architecture. Considered one of the most prestigious awards in the architecture world, the Gold Medal has been received by well renowned architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Frank Gehry, Julia Morgan, and Moshe Safdie.

2011 Fumihiko Maki Architecture ’53
2010 Peter Q. Bohlin Architecture ’61
1962 Eero Saarinen Instructor, 1939-1941
1947 Eliel Saarinen Cranbrook, Resident Architect, 1925–1950; Cranbrook Academy of Art (CAA), President, 1932–1946; CAA Director of Department of Architecture and Urban Design, 1946–1950;

American Institute of Architects (AIA) Twenty-Five Year Award

The Twenty-five Year Award showcases buildings that set a precedent. Conferred on a building that has stood the test of time for 25-35 years and continues to set standards of excellence for its architectural design and significance.

2014 Harry Weese Architecture ’39 Washington, D.C., Metro rail transit system design
1993 Eero Saarinen Instructor 1939-41 Deere Company Administrative Center, Moline, Ill.
1990 Eero Saarinen Instructor 1939-41 The Gateway Arch, St. Louis
1988 Eero Saarinen Instructor 1939-41 Dulles International Airport Terminal Building, Chantilly, Va.
1988 Eero Saarinen Instructor 1939-41 General Motors Technical Center, Warren, Mich.
1978 Charles and Ray Eames Charles: Student, Architecture, 1938–1939, CAA Instructor of Design, 1939–1941; Ray: Student, 1940–1941 The Eames House, Pacific Palisades, Calif.
1977 Eero Saarinen Instructor 1939-41 Christ Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, Minn..
Eero and Eliel Saarinen (Eliel: Cranbrook, Resident Architect, 1925–1950; Cranbrook Academy of Art (CAA), President, 1932–1946; CAA Director of Department of Architecture and Urban Design, 1946–1950; Eero: Instructor, 1939-1941) The Crow Island School, Winnetka, Ill.

Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award

Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum’s National Design Awards honor innovation and impact and recognize the power of design to change the world.

2015 Jack Lenor Larsen Fiber ’51
2009 Andrew Blauvelt Design ‘88
2008 Masamichi Udagawa Design ‘91
2005 Katherine McCoy and Michael McCoy Co-Chairs Design Department 1971-1995
2002 Lucille Tenazas Design ’81
2002 Niels Diffrient Design ’54

U.S. Fulbright Student Grants

In 2020, the Chronicle of Higher Education once again ranked Cranbrook Academy of Art as a top producer of U.S. Fulbright students. With a new grant received this year, Academy students have now received a total 25 grants over the past 11 years.

2022-2023 Madelaine Corbin Fiber ’20 Greece
2019-2020 Naomi Moser Photography ’18 Romania
2019-2020 Brian Kavanaugh Painting ’13 Romania
2017-2018 Elaine Ng Ceramics ’14 Taiwan
2017-2018 Tanya Long Ceramics ’17 Hungary
2015-2016 Katie Zazenski Sculpture ’14 Poland
2014-2015 Juan Torres Architecture ’11 Denmark
2014-2015 Kelley O’Brien 3D Design ’14 Philippines
2014-2015 Ryan Debolski Photography ’14 Oman
2013-2014 Robert Wetherington Ceramics ’09 Slovakia
2012-2013 Quynh Vantu Architecture ’09 United Kingdom
2012-2013 Anna Adler Ceramics ’11 Czech Republic
2012-2013 Sonja Dahl Fiber ’12 Indonesia
2011-2012 Jessica Harvey Photography ’09 Iceland
2010-2011 Carrie Fonder Sculpture ’09 India
2010-2011 Jacquelyn Gleisner Painting ’10 Finland
2010-2011 Jill Rowan Ceramics ’10 Syria
2009-2010 Andrew Ippoliti Ceramics ’09 China
2008-2009 Kim Faler Sculpture ’08 Brazil
2006-2007 Ryan Widger Photography ’05 Sweden
2006-2007 Tzu-ju Chen Metalsmithing ’06 China
2006-2007 Addie Langford Ceramics ’06 Spain
2005-2006 Richard Nelipovich Metalsmithing Netherlands
2005-2006 Anne Selden Fiber ’05 France
2005-2006 Brett Kallusky Photography ’05 Italy
2004-2005 James Ewing Photography ’04 Tunisia
2004-2005 Sarah Turner Metalsmithing ’04 Netherlands
2004-2005 Jeffrey Nebolini 2D Design ’04 Iceland
2004-2005 Heather Erickson Ceramics ’04 Finland
2003-2004 Jana Stockwell Sculpture Argentina
2003-2004 Ryan Hobbs 2D Design Latvia
2002-2003 Jacque Liu Ceramics Germany
2001-2002 Christie Wright Ceramics Netherlands
2001-2002 Andrea Rosenberger Fiber Korea
1998-99 Evan Larson Metalsmithing Korea
1997-98 Gloria Civantos Architecture Spain
1996-97 Joan Silver Fiber Poland
1995-96 Dawne Fowkes Ceramics Finland
1994-95 Rita Grendze Fiber Latvia
1994-95 Ronit Eisenbach Architecture United Kingdom
1993-94 Harris Wiltsher Printmaking South Africa
1992-93 Kristin Tollefson Metalsmithing Iceland
1992-93 Gretchen Gasterland Fiber Sweden
1990-91 Allen Hori 2D Design Netherlands

Guggenheim Fellows

Guggenheim Fellowships are intended for individuals who have already demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts.

2010 Blane De St. Croix Sculpture ’81
2007 Karyn Olivier Ceramics ’01
2005 Beverly Fishman Artist-In-Residence, Painting
1988 Donald Lipski Ceramics ’73
1973 Olga de Amaral Design student 54-55, Honorary MFA Recipient, 2022
1973 Michael David Hall Head, Sculpture Department 1970-1990
1938 David Fredenthal Student, 1935-39
1939 David Fredenthal Student, 1935-39

The Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Award in Painting, Sculpture, Printmaking, Photography, Video, and Craft Media

The Louis Comfort Tiffany Biennial Competition represents the organization’s continued mission to honor its founder Louis Comfort Tiffany by enriching the growth of and experimentation by artists with direct financial support. The Foundation’s goal is to support artists whose work shows promise, but who have not yet received widespread critical acclaim or commercial recognition, enabling them to produce new work and continue their development. Winners are selected for their talent, promise, and individual artistic strength.

2015 Adam Shirley Metalsmithing ’10
2013 Ariel Brice Ceramics ‘09
2013 Seth Papac Metalsmithing ‘09
2013 Mark Newport Head of Fiber and Artist-in-Residence, Present
2007 Christie Wright Ceramics ’00
2003 Karen Olivier Ceramics ‘01
2003 Beverly Fishman Head of Painting and Artist-in-Residence, 1992-2019
2001 Nick Cave Fiber ‘89
2001 Diana Guerrero-Maciá Painting ’92
2001 Margie Hughto Ceramics ’91
1995 Myra Mimlitsch Gray Metalsmithing ’86
1989 Joan Livingstone Fiber ’74
1989 Anne Wilson Fiber ’72

Knight Foundation Award Recipients

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation’s Knight Arts Challenge funds the best ideas for engaging and enriching Detroit through the arts. Over the years, award winners from Cranbrook have earned more than half a million dollars in funding for projects.

2017 Tiff Massey Metalsmithing ’11
2015 Cranbrook Art Museum Truth Booth exhibition
2015 Kate Daughdrill Print Media ‘11
2014 Anders Ruhwald Head of Ceramics and Artist-in-Residence, 2008-2017
2014 Cranbrook Art Museum, Nick Cave Fiber ’89 “Hear Hear” Exhibition
2013 Jon Brumit Painting ‘99
2013 Chris Schneider Photography ‘03
2013 Jeff Sturges Architecture ‘05
2013 Wesley Taylor 2D Design ‘11

Kresge Eminent Artist Award

Kresge Eminent Artist Award is an unrestricted $50,000 prize awarded to one artist annually. It recognizes a distinguished record of high-quality work and professional achievement in the arts, and a lifetime of contributions to their art forms and to the cultural community of metro Detroit.

2020 Marie Woo Ceramics ’56
2015 Ruth Adler Schnee Design ’46

Kresge Artist Fellows

Kresge Artist Fellowships are $25,000 unrestricted awards, plus professional development support and the creation of a short film highlighting the artist’s work. Fellowships recognize creative vision and commitment to excellence in artists of all ages within a wide range of artistic disciplines.

2021 Andrew Thompson Sculpture ’06
2015 Tiff Massey Metalsmithing ’11
2015 Chris Schanck 3D Design ’11
2015 Annica Cuppetelli Fiber ’08
2013 Kate Daughdrill Print Media ’11
2013 Jason E, Carter Painting ’11
2013 Jon Brumit Painting ’99
2013 Charlie O’Geen Architecture ’10
2011 Gina Reichart Architecture ’03
2011 Laith Karmo Ceramics ’06
2011 Corrie Baldauf Fiber ’09
2011 Liz Cohen Artist-In-Residence, Photography
2011 Mark Newport Artist-In-Residence, Fiber
2011 Heather McGill Artist-In-Residence, Sculpture
2009 Abigail Ann Newbold Fiber ’05
2009 Corine Vermeulen Photography ’04
2009 Shiva Ahmadi Painting ’05
2009 Rod Klingelhofer Fiber ’08
2009 Russ Orlando Ceramics ’08
2009 Susan Goethel Campbell Print Media ’89

Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Emerging Artist Award (2005-2019)

Cranbrook was honored to partner with Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC, for nearly 20 years, in which the organization supported graduating Cranbrook Academy of Art students with cash awards, and selected one student for a summer residency in Küenstlerhaus Bethanien in Berlin, which included introductions to important members of the international art and business communities. The last year of the program was 2020.

2019 Marianna Olague Painting ‘19
2018 Chen Li 3D Design ’18
2017 Ato Riberio Print Media ‘17
2016 Benjamin Santiago 2D Design ’16
2015 Kari Cholnoky Painting ’15
2014 Aaron Decker Metalsmithing ’14
2013 Francisco Alonzo Print Media ’13
2012 Jane Ritchie Metalsmithing ’12
2011 Carson Grubaugh Painting ’11
2010 Suzanne Beautyman Metalsmithing ’10
2009 Zachary Ostrowski 2D Design ’09
2008 Annica Cuppetelli Fiber ’08
2007 Marty McElveen Architecture ’07
2007 Dharmesh Patel Architecture ’07
2006 Andrew Simsak Sculpture ’06
2005 Mark Muskovitz 3D Design ’05

Society of North America Goldsmiths (SNAG) Lifetime Achievement Award

The Lifetime Achievement Award is SNAG’s highest honor and is presented to individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of metalsmithing.

2015 Fred Fenster Metalsmithing ’60
2013 Gary Griffin Head of Metalsmithing Department, 1984-2006
2012 J. Fred Woell Sculpture ’69
2011 L. Brent Kington Metalsmithing ’61
2010 Lois Etherington Betteridge Metalsmithing ’56
2009 Stanley Letchzin Metalsmithing ’61
2008 Heikki Seppä Metalsmithing student, 1960-61

United States Artists (USA) Fellows

Representing nine creative disciplines, each USA Fellow receives an unrestricted $50,000 award and recognition as one of America’s most accomplished and innovative artists.

2016 Vivian Beer Metalsmithing ‘04
2016 Annabeth Rosen Ceramics ’81
2016 Piper Shepard Fiber ’88
2015 Anne Wilson Fiber ‘72
2015 Jonathan Muecke 3D Design‘10
2012 Jesse Reiser Architecture ‘84
2012 Myra Mimlitsch-Gray Metalsmithing ‘86
2012 Rowland Ricketts Fiber ‘05
2011 Sonya Clark Fiber ’95
2006 Nick Cave Fiber ’89
2006 Masamichi Udagawa 3D Design ’91

United States Department of State International Medal of Arts

The International Medal of Arts is awarded to artists who demonstrate an enduring commitment to the Art in Embassies mission of cultural diplomacy through the visual arts and international cultural exchange. Recipients have helped define America’s cultural legacy through their artistic excellence and diplomatic contributions. Their artwork serves as a bridge with other nations, encourages discussion and expression and highlights the communal experiences of people from countries, cultures, and backgrounds worldwide.

2002 Nick Cave Fiber ’89