Dallas is about to make art history. On November 14, 2026, the Nasher Sculpture Center will hold the first-ever public conferral of the Nasher Prize — one of the most prestigious honors in the world of sculpture — and the whole city is invited to share the moment.
The $100,000 prize will be presented to Kosovar artist Petrit Halilaj, the 9th Nasher Prize laureate. To mark the occasion, the Nasher will install a new version of the large house sculpture created for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s 2024 Roof Garden Commission, part of Halilaj’s beloved Abetare series. The monumental work will be on view in the Nasher Garden through the summer of 2027, thanks to a long-term loan.
The stainless steel and bronze forms of Abetare were born from thousands of drawings collected from children’s school desks, first in Kosovo and later across the Balkans. Everyday school-day doodles become towering markers of history and culture — joyful proof that wonder is something we all share.
In the truest spirit of generosity, Halilaj announced he will donate his prize money to the Hajde! Foundation, the Kosovo-based nonprofit he founded with his sister, curator Hana Halilaj, which supports artists and builds cultural communities in Kosovo.
The November 14 celebration begins with a public conversation between Halilaj and a Nasher curator, followed by the award presentation and a festive party with food, music and performances inspired by the artist’s work — a happy night for all of Dallas.
Happy City News celebrates this milestone alongside the Nasher Sculpture Center, a treasure of the Dallas Arts District that has championed modern and contemporary sculpture since 2003. The Center is open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; admission is $10 for adults and free for children 12 and under.
Photo: Nasher Sculpture Center
