Clyde Butcher Given National Award

Clyde Butcher at the White House with President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden. Butcher received the National Medal of Arts.

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Posted Wednesday, October 30, 2024 8:00 pm

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Acclaimed landscape photographer Clyde Butcher received the National Medal of Arts from President Joe Biden in a private ceremony at the White House. Joined by First Lady Jill Biden and representatives from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), President Biden recognized Butcher as one of 20 honorees from the 2022 and 2023 recipients, celebrating their contributions to America’s cultural heritage.

Reflecting on the honor, Butcher shared, “What a day—from the Everglades to the Oval Office. Receiving this award from President Biden is an experience I’ll never forget. I’m truly honored by this recognition. Photography is more than capturing what’s in front of us; it’s about feeling, interpreting, and sharing a story that stirs emotion and meaning. I hope to keep using my art to inspire conservation, reminding others of the beauty we must protect for generations to come.”

The White House citation praised Butcher as “a photographer focusing the lens on Mother Nature,” whose iconic black-and-white images—from the Rocky Mountains to the Everglades—“inspire and challenge us to respect and defend our natural wonders.” As a self-taught artist, Butcher has become one of America’s most recognized photographers, known for his commitment to preserving landscapes and the natural beauty of his subjects.

Adding to the momentous occasion, Clyde’s latest book, Lifeworks in Photography, was released just before the family departed for Washington, D.C. This career-spanning retrospective presents Clyde’s breathtaking landscapes and captures his life’s devotion to nature and conservation, making it a fitting companion to this national recognition.

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