Chilean architect Smiljan Radic has won the 2026 Pritzker Prize, architecture's highest honor. The award, which had been delayed due to the Pritzker family's past associations with Jeffrey Epstein, recognizes Radic's lyrical and experimental designs that embrace fragility and dialogue with natural environments, creating what the jury described as "optimistic and quietly joyful shelter."
The announcement was paired with commentary from Brooklyn Museum director Anne Pasternak, who highlighted a troubling pattern in museum leadership transitions. Speaking at a forum, Pasternak argued that male directors often retire from their posts, while women in similar positions are more frequently fired, a concern echoed in broader industry reports about backlash against female leadership in the arts.