School of Art Lecturer Awarded Inaugural Prize to Represent Arkansas

Danielle Hatch, a lecturer at the University of Arkansas School of Art, housed in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, has been named a recipient of Creative Capital’s inaugural State of the Art Prize. Hatch becomes the first artist from Arkansas to receive support from the national arts funder.

“Receiving the State of the Art Prize is an honor,” Hatch said. “The grant will support the continued development of a collaborative public art installation and education project with local high school art students, empowering them to view civic design as a space of plurality, collective generosity and joy. I'm deeply grateful to be included in this cohort of artists from across the country and for the recognition of artmaking happening in the Arkansas Ozarks.”

She is one of 53 artists selected nationwide to receive the $10,000 unrestricted grant, awarded as part of Creative Capital’s expansion to support artists in all 50 states. Designed to fuel creativity across rural, regional and urban communities, the State of the Art Prize recognizes artists whose work pushes cultural, social and formal boundaries. Hatch was selected from a highly competitive pool of over 4,000 applicants through a rigorous external review process led by artists, curators and cultural leaders from across the country.

An interdisciplinary Peruvian American artist based in the Arkansas Ozarks, Hatch creates immersive installations, sculptures and performances that foreground women’s lived experiences while reimagining the built environment. Her work introduces organic, biomorphic forms into rigid architectural spaces. Through what she terms “invasive craft,” Hatch asserts women’s labor and aesthetics in public space, reclaiming historically gendered practices as tools for examining identity, inherited knowledge and community.

Hatch teaches art in the Foundations program, designed to teach students fundamentals of art practices. Her work has earned national and international recognition, including a 2024 MacDowell Fellowship. She has also exhibited at the 19th Venice Architecture Biennale in 2025, and her installations have been shown at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art; the Gregg Museum of Art and Design in Raleigh, North Carolina; and the AD&A Museum in Santa Barbara, California, among other institutions across the United States.

“We are so proud of Danielle. This recognition by Creative Capital affirms what we have long known: the University of Arkansas School of Art is home to artist-educators whose work resonates far beyond our region,” said Rachel Debuque, director of the School of Art.

The State of the Art Prize provides unrestricted support, allowing artists full autonomy in directing funds toward their creative practice and professional development — an especially critical investment for artists working in under-resourced regions and emerging creative communities.

For more information about Hatch and her work, visit www.daniellehatch.com. To learn more about Creative Capital and the State of the Art Prize, visit creative-capital.org.

About the School of Art: Housed in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, the University of Arkansas School of Art offers undergraduate degrees and tuition-free graduate programs in art education, art history, graphic design and studio art, including ceramics, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture. Formerly the Department of Art, the School of Art was established in 2017 following a transformative $120 million gift from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation. With additional support from the Windgate Foundation, the School of Art developed the Windgate Art and Design District, providing state-of-the-art facilities and strong partnerships with regional arts institutions. Learn more at art.uark.edu.

About the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences: The Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences is the academic heart and soul of the University of Arkansas — where discovery, creativity, and curiosity meet to create transformational educational experiences. Encompassing three schools, 16 departments, and numerous programs and research centers, Fulbright College connects the arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences to advance knowledge, discovery, and serve Arkansas and the world. Discover more at fulbright.uark.edu.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $3 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.