Tommy Orange, an acclaimed novelist known for his focus on urban Native American stories, was awarded the 2025 MacArthur Fellowship, often called a 'genius grant,' which was kept secret from him for about a month before the official announcement.

The MacArthur Foundation, renowned for its rigorous selection process, surprises many of its 22 U.S. fellows each year with the news, and this year’s winners include Orange along with two other Bay Area scientists recognized for their innovative research.

Orange's fellow recipients from the Bay Area include scientists Teresa Puthussery and William Tarpeh, who were honored for their groundbreaking work in neurobiology and wastewater resource recovery, respectively.

The fellowship, which awards $800,000 with no restrictions, arrives at a crucial point in Orange’s career, enabling him to focus on completing his upcoming novel 'The Pretendians' and avoid a university teaching position that might divert him from his writing.

In a Foundation video, Orange discussed the misrepresentation of Native Americans, emphasizing that most live in cities like Oakland and highlighting the importance of portraying their contemporary urban experiences.

Orange’s work, including novels like 'There There' and 'Wandering Stars,' explores modern Native American life in cities, addressing themes such as trauma transmission and historical events like the Sand Creek Massacre and the Occupation of Alcatraz.

Expressing concern about AI's impact on creative careers, Orange aims to produce significant work over the next two years, supported by the fellowship funds.

His win was widely celebrated within the Bay Area literary community, which praised his involvement in teaching and nurturing writers, exemplified by his recent storytelling workshop at San Francisco’s Mechanics’ Institute.

Nate Olivarez-Giles, a writer and Native descendant, shared how Orange’s novel 'There There' resonated with his own urban Native identity, underscoring the importance of Orange’s depiction of Native life in cities.