Ruth Asawa was a first-generation Japanese American born to immigrant farmers outside of Los Angeles. She grew up during the Great Depression and, at age 16, was forcibly incarcerated by the United States government during World War II because of her Japanese ancestry. Despite this, Asawa always considered herself an American artist.
I hold no hostilities for what happened; I blame no one. Sometimes good comes through adversity. I would not be who I am today had it not been for the internment, and I like who I am.
President Joe Biden presented the honors on Monday, Oct. 21, to recipients including Ruth Asawa, renowned for her abstract wire hanging sculptures and public art projects.
The 2023 recipients, announced the same day, include visual artist Mark Bradford, documentarian Ken Burns, rapper and actor Queen Latifah, filmmakers Spike Lee and Steven Spielberg and singer Selena Quintanilla.
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