The American photographer received the $50,000 prize for his panoramic series, Seeing Rural Appalachia, A Photographic Journal. Previous winners include the visual artists Kara Walker and Catherine Opie, the illustrator Chris Ware, the designers Kate and Laura Mulleavy, the composer Meredith Monk, the choreographers Benjamin Millepied and Bill T. Jones, and the writer Sapphire.

The Lowe Foundation awards its prize annually to an American artist working in one of the following fields: architecture and design, traditional arts, dance, literature, media, music, theatre and visual arts. A jury of specialists selects the winner, who is usually already somewhat established in his or her field. Mike Smith is represented by the gallery Lee Marks Fine Art in Shelbyville, Indiana.