In 1984 , he was named a Guggenheim Fellow and was the first performance artist to be awarded a 5 - year MacArthur Fellowship .
Irwin was awarded the National Endowment for the Arts Choreographer 's Fellowship in 1981 and 1983 .
In 1984 , Irwin was named a Guggenheim Fellow and was the first performance artist to be awarded a 5 - year MacArthur Fellowship .
Irwin was awarded the National Endowment for the Arts Choreographer 's Fellowship in 1981 and 1983 .