The Paez Medal of Art 2025
Charles Brewer-Carías
December 31st, 2025
Immediate Release
A message from:
The Chairman, Ali Cordero Casal
and The Venezuelan American Endowment for the Arts
Board of Directors Advisors
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On June 13th 1990 VAEA was established in New York. This is the year of our 35th anniversary and we are honored to announce that The Venezuelan American Endowment for the Arts (VAEA) will present its highest award, The Páez Medal of Art 2025 to Charles Brewer-Carías in recognition as polymath, an explorer, discoverer, writer and photographer whose outstanding contributions to society as one of the most celebrated researchers of our era have expanded human understanding of our relationship to nature and our planet. We wish you all a happy 2026! |
“Nature is the source of all true knowledge.”
Leonardo da Vinci
The Paez Medal of Art 2025
Charles Brewer-Carías
Charles Brewer-Carías descending Sima Mayor of Sarisariñama, the largest sinkhole of the world. Sarisariñama Tepuy, Venezuela
About Charles Brewer-Carías
“My hero is Man—the Discoverer. The world we now behold—time and seas, earth and sky, plants and animals, history and humanity—was unveiled by countless Columbuses.” (*)
(*) From the book “The Discoverers” of Daniel J. Boorstein. Referred by Brian Boom, MsC New York Botanical Garden, for the book “Plantas de los Tepuyes” of Charles Brewer-Carías.
He is best known for:
- Discovering the largest and longest quartzite cave in the world in Churi Tepuy, Venezuela named in his honor Cueva Charles Brewer
- Documenting the largest sandstone sinkholes at Sarisariñama-tepuy, Venezuela.
- Conducting major botanical and zoological surveys on Venezuelan tepuis such as Cerro de la Neblina, Autana, Chimantá, Ptari, and Roraima
- Publishing 21 books on exploration, botany, ethnology, and geography
A remarkable 29 species and one plant genus (Brewcaria) have been named in his honor. Brewer‑Carías is also a respected ethnographer, having lived among the Ye’kwana and Yanomamö, documenting their languages, cosmology, and traditional knowledge. He is widely regarded as one of the most important explorers of the 20th and 21st centuries — a modern counterpart to Humboldt, Schomburgk, Wallace and other legendary naturalists.
Extended Bio in Spanish – Curriculum Ilustrado
Bio in English
The Páez Medal of Art
AWARD CEREMONY & VAEA GALA
2026
Venue and date to be announced
About the Páez Medal of Art
The Páez Medal of Art is awarded to individuals or groups that have had an impact on, and contributed to the excellence, growth, support and dissemination of the arts in Venezuela and the United States.
Previous recipients have included:
• Joshua Bell, American violinist & music educator advocate in 2022
• Fundación Empresa Polar, and its founder Leonor Gimenez de Mendoza in 2021
• Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry and Venezuelan Architect Jimmy Alcock in 2020
• Filmmakers Julian Schnabel and Venezuelan Margot Benacerraf in 2019
• Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel in 2018
• American writer Bob Colacello in 2017
• Venezuelan sculptor Marisol Escobar in 2016
• American photographer Annie Leibovitz in 2015
• Venezuelan art advocate Sofia Imber in 2014
• American theater stage director and playwright and visual artist Robert Wilson in 2013
• Venezuelan visual artist Carlos Cruz-Diez in 2012
The Páez Medal of Art 2022 went to Joshua Bell in recognition of his unwavering commitment to music education and his unparalleled contribution to his craft as one of the most celebrated artists of our era.
The Páez Medal of Art 2021 went to Fundación Empresas Polar and its founder president Leonor Giménez de Mendoza for extraordinary philanthropic work in science, art and education.
James Alcock was one of the two winners of the VAEA 2020 Páez Medal of Art. Architect Walter James Alcock Matos, also known as Jimmy Alcock, is one of the most prolific Venezuelan architects of the late 20th century.
Frank Gehry was one of the two recipient of VAEA’s Páez Medal of Art 2020. Mr. Gehry’s contribution to the field of architecture has earned him significant honors and honorary doctorates from his country and internationally.
Julian Schnabel was one of the two winners of the VAEA 2019 Páez Medal of Art. The VAEA was honored to award Julian Schnabel , whose contribution to the visual arts and film reflects the tremendous vitality and artistic passion of an exceptional contemporary American artist.
Margot Benacerraf was one of the two recipient of VAEA’s Paez Medal of Art 2019. Benacerrat is a distinguished Venezuelan filmmaker and film promoter, and a major figure in Latin American film history.
Gustavo Dudamel was the recipient of VAEA’s Paez Medal of Art 2018. For his significant contribution to the arts and his unwavering commitment in bringing classical music to all, building international bridges and making powerful social transformation through his craft.
Bob Colacello was the recipient of VAEA’s Páez Medal of Art 2017. Bob Colacello is one of America’s most prominent and prolific biographical writers. For his important contribution to the arts and his broad vision of the social and cultural landscape.
Marisol Escobar the Venezuelan American visual artist was the recipient of VAEA’s Paez Medal of Art 2016. Marisol became internationally known for her sculptures and pop art works.
Annie Leibovitz was the recipient of VAEA’s Páez Medal of Art 2015. The American photographer Annie Leibovitz’s outstanding contributions to the art of photography in her forty-year career are numerous and exceptional.
Sofia Imber was the recipient of VAEA’s Páez Medal of Art 2014. Imber is one of the most outstanding personalities in the history of Venezuelan art and journalism, being a notable advocator for the arts in Venezuela founded the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Caracas with one of the greatest art collections of Latin America.
Robert Wilson was the recipient of VAEA’s Páez Medal of Art 2013. Wilson has left an indelible mark as a change agent in experimental theater; his work addresses the traditional paradigms and combines the roles of Director, writer, actor, painter, choreographer and designer.
Carlos Cruz Diez was the recipient of VAEA’s Páez Medal of Art 2012. Mr. Cruz Diez has excelled as an artist in his native Venezuela and abroad always showing a superb commitment to advancing the arts via public arts and educational programs. He is consider one of the founders of the kinetic art movement.
Paez as a Simbol
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The Padrino Program
Glass Marcano a former beneficiary of the VAEA Bratter Padrino Program is now a successful conductor in Europe
Click here for the 5th anniversary video of this project
We support artists in Venezuela, for more info and how to become a Padrino
VAEA Art Store
Sarisariñama by Alberto Blanco 1986/2026
Giclée on canvas VAEA’s limited edition of 100
Diameter 32 inches
Interested and reservation of this work of art please write to contact@vaearts.org
or contact by phone or WhatsApp +1-212-3070087
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Museo de Arte Acarigua Araure
Museo de Arte contemporaneo de Guanare
Monumentos de Hermandad
VAEA with the Ministerio de Cultura de Colombia, Fundacion Otero Pardo and private sector will restore Ala Solar by Alejandro Otero.
To support visit Monumentos de Hermandad website
About The VAEA
The Venezuelan American Endowment for the Arts is a New York based 501(c)3 public charity, founded on June 13, 1990 with the mission of promoting the best of Venezuelan and US cultures through bi-national cultural, educational and social programs.
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Make a tax-deductible contribution to VAEA. The Venezuelan American Endowment for the Arts is a 501 (c)3 tax exempt registered organization, contributions to VAEA are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law. To support VAEA make a 2021 tax deductible contribution. Zelle: donate@vaearts.org |
For additional information visit VAEArts.org
For sponsorship opportunities and early table reservations contact:
Ali Cordero Casal, Chairman, alicorderocasal@vaearts.org +1 3053228899
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