Cooper has been recognized with grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (1994), Illinois Arts Council (three, 1988–2009) and City of Chicago (1991), and awarded artist residencies from the Wilderness Workshop, Bloedel Reserve, Museum of Copenhagen, Kohler Arts Center, Hafnarfjördur Centre, Camargo Foundation, MacDowell Colony, Ragdale, Montalvo Arts Center, and Yaddo, among others.