Yoko Ono, a controversial artist, filmmaker, and musician, has been awarded thEdward MacDowell Medal by the MacDowell program, one of the country’s premier artist residency programs. This lifetime achievement award has previously been given to notable figures such as Stephen Sondheim and Toni Morrison.
Nell Painter, the chair of MacDowell’s board, praised Ono’s unique and influential work, stating, “There has never been anyone like her; there has never been work like hers… Enduringly fresh and pertinent, her uniquely powerful oeuvre speaks to our own times, so sorely needful of her leitmotif: Peace.”
Ono’s son, Sean Ono Lennon, expressed his pride in his mother’s recognition, calling the medal “an incredible honor” and noting the impressive list of past recipients.
At 91 years old, Ono has made few public appearances in recent years and is not expected to attend the July awards ceremony at the MacDowell campus in Peterborough, New Hampshire. Instead, her music manager, David Newgarden, will accept the award on her behalf.
Ono first gained recognition as part of the avant-garde Fluxus movement in the 1960s before achieving international fame through her relationship with John Lennon, to whom she was married from 1969 until his tragic death in 1980. The couple collaborated on numerous projects, including the songs “Give Peace a Chance,” “Imagine,” and “Happy Xmas (War Is Over).” The latter served as the inspiration for this year’s Oscar-winning animated short film, “War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko” featuring Sean Ono Lennon as a producer.
Over the past four decades, Ono has maintained a prolific career as both a visual and recording artist, releasing albums such as “Season of Glass,” “Starpeace,” and “Take Me to the Land of Hell.” Recently, her work was showcased in a career retrospective at London’s Tate Modern, further cementing her status as an influential figure in the art world.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.