Joan Jonas, professor emerita in the Program in Art, Culture, and Technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was named the winner of the 2018 Kyoto Prize in the arts and philosophy category. The prize honors individuals who have contributed significantly to the scientific, cultural, or spiritual betterment of mankind.
The Kyoto Prize was founded by philanthropist Kazuo Inamori and is administrated by the Inamori Foundation. Inamori, who is a Zen Buddhist priest, earned a fortune in electronics and telecommunications. He later was appointed chief executive officer of Japan Airlines.
Professor Jonas has been affiliated with MIT since 1998 and was named professor emerita in 2014. Originally a sculptor, Professor Jonas is a pioneer in video and performance art. A native of New York, Jonas is a 1958 graduate of Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts, where she majored in art history. After studying sculpture at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Jonas earned a master of fine arts degree in sculpture from Columbia University.
Winners of the Kyoto Prize receive a diploma, a gold medal and 100 million yen (roughly equal to $915,000). Professor Jonas will be honored at ceremonies in Kyoto, Japan, on November 10.