The Joseph R. Shapiro Award
The Joseph R. Shapiro Award honors the vision and connoisseurship of Chicago’s most distinguished collectors of art. It is named in memory of the extraordinary collector and philanthropist Joseph Shapiro (1904–1996), who was an alumnus of the University of Chicago, a Life Trustee of the Art Institute of Chicago, and the founding president of Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art.
Proceeds from the award dinner support the full range of the Smart Museum's educational and cultural mission.
Past honorees
- Margot and Thomas J. Pritzker, 2011
- Richard and Mary L. Gray, 2008
- Marilynn Alsdorf, 2006
- Susan and Lewis Manilow, 2004
- Muriel Kallis Newman, 2002
- Lindy Bergman, 2000
- John H. Bryan, 1997
- Joseph R. Shapiro, 1995
The Eighth Joseph R. Shapiro Award Dinner
On April 12, 2011, the Smart Museum and over 350 guests honored Margot and Thomas J. Pritzker at the eighth biennial Joseph R. Shapiro Award Dinner.
In 1978, a 400-mile trek through the Himalayas cemented the Pritzkers' shared passion for the art and culture of the region. Since then, they have built one of America's foremost collections of South Asian art and—through exhibitions, loans, and donations—have untiringly promoted their belief in the power of the visual arts throughout the city of Chicago.
Interview with the honorees
Top: Photo by Jason Smith.
Feast | Opens February 16
Discover the radical history of the shared meal as an artistic medium.
Family Days
On the first Saturday of every month, drop by the Smart and join in the free creative family activities!
