National Building Museum Presents: Vincent Scully Prize to Mabel O. Wilson

Celebrate the ground-breaking work and accomplishments of Mabel O. Wilson, the Nancy and George E. Rupp Professor of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation at Columbia University. Wilson is the 23National Building Museum’s annual Vincent Scully Prize. An architect, scholar, researcher, artist, writer, and curator, Wilson’s work focuses on Black culture and history and the ways they intersect with the built environment. In a conversation with Steven Nelson, Dean of the Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts at the National Gallery of Art, Wilson will discuss her career and ongoing work to expand the narrative of African American contributions to the built environment

In her talk, Wilson will address:

• How the invention of racial difference was influenced by and influences the aesthetic and technical dimensions of architecture in the early modern era of the nineteenth century.
• How and why historically marginalized groups were excluded from the commemorative landscape of memorial structures in American cities.
• How to articulate criteria and practices that can be used when public memorials or monuments are contested.

The Vincent Scully Prize is named for the esteemed Yale professor whose teaching inspired so many individuals in the building fields. The prize recognizes excellence in practice, scholarship, or criticism in architecture, historic preservation, and urban design.