On Jan. 14, United States Artists (USA) named its 2026 class of USA Fellows. Broadway lighting designer Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew and Broadway performer and choreographer Ty Defoe are among them.
Of note: The organization, which names 50 fellows each year, also awarded fellowships to New York-based director Mei Ann Teo, Hawaiian director Mina Morita and Los Angeles scenic designer Tanya Orellana.
Most recently Yew’s work was seen on Broadway in “Left on Tenth.” Other Broadway credits include “The Thanksgiving Play,” “Kimberly Akimbo” and the 2022 revival of “Macbeth.” In 2023 Yew received an Obie Award for Sustained Achievement in Design. In addition to her production work, Yew is the associate arts professor and head of lighting design training with New York University’s department of drama production and design studio. Defoe made their Broadway debut onstage in “Straight White Men” and later served as choreographer and cultural consultant for “The Minutes.”
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the USA fellowship, which has awarded more than $53 million to more than 1,000 artists across the nation. In addition to theater, the organization recognizes artists and collaborators in architecture and design, craft, dance, film, media, music, traditional arts, visual art and writing. The funding it provides is completely unrestricted. USA also offers its fellows financial planning, career consulting, legal advice, public relations and wellness.
The 2026 USA Fellowships were made possible by Sarah Arison, Barr Foundation, Ford Foundation, the Ford Family Foundation, Good Chaos, David Horvitz and Francie Bishop Good, Hearthland Foundation, the Joyce Foundation, Barbara and Amos Hostetter, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Mellon Foundation, Poetry Foundation, Pritzker Pucker Family Foundation, Rasmuson Foundation, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Rockefeller Foundation, Todd and Betiana Simon, Annette and Paul Smith, Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts, Katie Weitz, PhD and Windgate Charitable Foundation.
