Greenwich Academy Alumna Named “Genius” by MacArthur Foundation

Lauren Redniss, Greenwich Academy class of ’92 graduate was named “Genius” by MacArthur Foundation. Photo courtesy Greenwich Academy

Visual storyteller Lauren Redniss ’92 was awarded the MacArthur Fellowship for “seamlessly integrating artwork, written text, and design elements in works of visual nonfiction.”

Redniss was a finalist for the National Book Award for her biography “Radioactive,” which explored the scientific discoveries and love affairs of Pierre and Marie Curie. Her additional works include “Century Girl,” the story of Ziegfeld Follies start Doris Eaton Travis, and “Thunder and Lightening,” which focuses on the impact of weather in our daily lives and in important moments in history.

Lauren Redniss received a B.A. (1996) from Brown University and an M.F.A. (2000) from the School of Visual Arts. She is an assistant professor in the School of Art, Media and Technology at Parsons, the New School for Design.

The MacArthur Fellowships were awarded to 23 fellows for exceptional “originality, insight and potential,” and include writers, visual artists, scientists, nonprofit organization leaders and others who will receive a no-strings-attached grant of $625,000 distributed over five years.

Redniss said upon learning of the award, “I was so stunned. I think it just continues to sink in. Because it’s been a secret up until now, that maintains the sense of unreality. Now it’s like, maybe this is happening. It’s a really nice feeling.”

For more information and additional photos, visit: www.macfound.org