HOUSTON – Vincent Valdez, visual artist and 2025-2026 artist-in-residence at the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, has been awarded the prestigious 2026 MacArthur Fellowship, commonly known as the “Genius Grant.” This recognition honors Valdez for his impactful work “that reflect[s] Latino experiences and the contemporary United States.”
During his ACLU of Texas residency, Valdez developed the drawing series, “The New Americans.” The body of work is a visual reflection of our contemporary American moment, featuring intimate portraits and powerful scenes that Valdez encountered in his search for those working for a better tomorrow, today.
“Texas is the place that raised me,” said Vincent Valdez (he/him). “‘The New Americans’ brings me back home into the same communities who taught me about what it means to remember our history and to fight the good fight.”
Valdez is currently touring the state to share and discuss the 22-drawing series, which is available online at aclutx.org/newamericans. The tour kicked off with a major event at the Rothko Chapel, where Valdez was in conversation with Lonnie Ali, CEO of the Muhammad Ali Center. He also spoke to a few hundred people in San Antonio at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center’s Latino Bookstore & Gift Shop. He has additional visits planned in Dallas (October 10), Houston (October 17), and San Antonio (TBD). Prints of his work will be available during each tour stop.
Previously, Valdez has been recognized for his installations such as “El Chavez Ravine (2005 - 2007),” created in collaboration with musician Ry Cooder, depicting Mexican American citizens experiencing displacement during the 1950s Dodger Stadium construction, and “The Beginning Is Near, An American Trilogy, Ch. II: Dream Baby Dream,” a series of portraits rendering the emotions experienced by mourners during Muhammad Ali’s funeral as broadcast on television. Valdez’s 2024-2025 exhibition “Vincent Valdez: Just a Dream…”, the artist's first major museum survey, debuted at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston and later showed at MASS MoCA and garnered national attention.
“Vincent Valdez’s work reminds us of the power of our voices across time and place,” said Oni Blair (she/her), executive director of the ACLU of Texas. “From the iconic civil rights leader to the grassroots organizer in our neighborhood, we share a collective commitment to resist attacks on our civil rights and civil liberties.”
The artist is among 20 distinguished MacArthur Fellow recipients spanning various fields, including arts, anthropology, history, music, science, literature, and more. Recipients for the MacArthur Foundation’ annual award are not selected by application, but identified through a confidential, ongoing scouting process.
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