TEHRAN -- Iranian artist, 
researcher and collector Parviz Tanavoli has received the 2026 George Hewitt Myers Award, an international distinction presented by The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum in recognition of a lifetime of achievement and scholarship in the field of textile arts.
The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum announced that the 2026 award has been presented to Tanavoli, whose work has extended beyond contemporary art into decades of research, documentation and collecting of Iran’s traditional textiles.
Named after the museum’s founder, the George Hewitt Myers Award is conferred by the institution’s Board of Trustees on distinguished figures whose contributions have left a lasting mark on the field of textiles.
Tanavoli was honored for more than six decades of research, documentation and collecting focused on Iranian carpets, kilims and other traditional textiles. The Textile Museum has recognized him as a leading figure in the research and documentation of Iran’s traditional textile heritage.
Over the course of his career, Tanavoli has authored more than 40 books and articles on Iranian carpets and textiles. Among his important publications in the field are Shahsavan: Iranian Rugs and Textiles and Persian Flat-Weaves.
Widely regarded as one of Iran’s most important contemporary sculptors, Tanavoli has pursued his interest in Iran’s traditional and nomadic arts alongside his artistic practice, devoting decades to their study and collection.
The George Hewitt Myers Award ceremony honoring Tanavoli was held virtually on September 1.