Pharrell Williams to receive 2025 André Leon Talley Lifetime Achievement Award

The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) has named musician, designer, and entrepreneur Pharrell Williams as the 2025 recipient of the André Leon Talley Lifetime Achievement Award. The honor recognizes his impact on fashion and the broader creative industries.

Williams, the Creative Director of Louis Vuitton Menswear, will be celebrated on October 14 at SCADshow in Atlanta. The event coincides with the opening of André Leon Talley: Style Is Forever, a new exhibition at the SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film, launching October 15.

SCAD honors artist and designer for his influence on fashion and culture

SCAD President Paula Wallace called Williams a “generational talent” who continues Talley’s legacy of boundary-pushing creativity. The ceremony will include remarks by Wallace and designer Diane von Furstenberg, followed by a conversation with Williams, artist The-Dream, and YELLOW’s Stephanie Sutton.

“It is a profound honor to receive the André Leon Talley Award,” Williams said. “André showed us that creativity has no boundaries—it moves between art, fashion, and culture as a force that unites us.”

A 13-time Grammy winner, Williams also leads the wellness brand Humanrace and the non-profits YELLOW and Black Ambition. The Talley award, first presented to its namesake in 2003, has previously recognized Karl Lagerfeld, Miuccia Prada, and Aurora James.

André Leon Talley: Style Is Forever will showcase Talley’s personal couture, accessories, and photographs from SCAD’s permanent collection through March 1, 2026.