Crystal Bridges announces Tyler Mitchell as the 2026 recipient of the $250,000 Don Tyson Prize for the Advancement of American Art

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BENTONVILLE, Ark. – Crystal Bridges today announced Tyler Mitchell as the sixth recipient of the Don Tyson Prize for the Advancement of American Art. The prize, which carries an unrestricted $250,000 cash award, celebrates meaningful contributions to the field of American art. Awarded to individuals and institutions working in any medium, its recipients are innovators who are changing the way the public looks at, thinks about, or experiences American art. 

The Tyson family established the biennial award in 2016 in honor of the late Don Tyson, former chairman and CEO of Tyson Foods. This year the prize transitions to an annual award, including a cash award increase, greatly expanding its future impact. Recipients of this prize are creating risk-taking work that raises awareness, challenges preconceived notions, and removes barriers. The prize is an important expression of Crystal Bridges’ continued commitment to increasing access to art for all and broadening the public’s understanding of what American art can be.

Past winners include Nicholas Galanin (Tlingit-Unangax̂) (2024), Deborah Willis (2022), Project Row Houses (2020), vanessa german (2018), and the Archives of American Art (2016).

“Our selection of Tyler Mitchell reflects the profound impact of his practice and the distinctive place his work holds in contemporary culture,” said Rod Bigelow, Executive Director of Crystal Bridges. “Through photography, film, publishing, fashion, and exhibition-making, Mitchell has created images and experiences that reach audiences well beyond traditional museum spaces.” 

“Tyler Mitchell reflects the spirit of the Don Tyson Prize: bold, generous, forward-looking, and culturally consequential. His work offers a powerful vision of life, beauty, leisure, and belonging,” said Olivia Tyson, President of the Tyson Family Foundation and granddaughter of the late Don Tyson.

Tyler Mitchell (b. 1995, Atlanta) is an artist, photographer, and filmmaker based in Brooklyn. In 2017, he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film and Television from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. He constructs images that offer new narratives about beauty and desire, exploring the intersection of historical themes and fictionalized future possibilities. Mitchell’s aesthetic is defined by a portrayal of Black life that foregrounds tenderness, camaraderie, and self-determination, frequently drawing inspiration from the pastoral landscapes and domestic scenes of his suburban Georgia youth. In 2018, he made history as the first Black photographer to shoot the cover of American Vogue, for Beyoncé’s appearance in the September issue.

Deborah Willis, PhD, mentor to Mitchell and the recipient of the 2022 Don Tyson Prize said, “Tyler captures the diversity and commonality of a community by activating memories of childhood, family, and leisure that form the fabric of social and cultural life. Tyler's work re-frames perceptions of intimacy, style and the human form. The contemporary impulse to ask questions globally about life is found in Tyler's work.”  

The Tyson family has a long-standing relationship with Crystal Bridges, including endowing the museum’s Tyson Scholars of American Art program. Tyson Foods Chairman and son of Don Tyson, John H. Tyson is also an original member of the Crystal Bridges board, and Olivia Tyson is involved with work across Crystal Bridges and the Momentary. 

About Crystal Bridges 

The mission of Crystal Bridges is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. Since opening in 2011, the museum has welcomed more than 15 million visitors across its spaces, with no cost for admission. Crystal Bridges was founded in 2005 as a public 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization by philanthropist Alice Walton. The museum’s expansive collection spans five centuries of American masterworks from early American to current day and is enhanced by temporary exhibitions and five miles of trails featuring public art installations from prominent artists.

The museum is nestled on 134 acres of Ozark landscape and was designed by the world-renowned Safdie Architects. A rare Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house was preserved and relocated to the museum grounds in 2015. Crystal Bridges offers public programs including lectures, performances, classes, and teacher development opportunities, and is the home of the prestigious Don Tyson Prize for the Advancement of American Art and Tyson Scholars of American Art Program. Some 558,375 school children have participated in the Willard and Pat Walker School Visit program, which provides educational experiences for school groups at no cost to the schools. 

Additional museum amenities include a restaurant, gift store, library, and five miles of art and walking trails. In February 2020, the museum opened the Momentary in Downtown Bentonville (507 SE E Street), a venue for the music, art, and food of our time. Crystal Bridges’ 114,000 square foot expansion opened to the public June 6 and 7, 2026, allowing the museum to expand access for all. For more information, visit CrystalBridges.org. The museum is located at 600 Museum Way, Bentonville, Arkansas 72712. 

About the Tyson Family Foundation

Established in 1970, the Tyson Family Foundation supports efforts for education, health, arts and culture, youth programs, and a scholarship program for Tyson Foods employees and their families. The foundation has endowed and supported local, regional, and national organizations committed to furthering access to knowledge, promoting creativity, and supporting communities. President Olivia Tyson currently leads the Foundation.  

Media Contact

media@crystalbridges.org