Michigan State University Associate Professor Divya Victor has been honored with a national Creative Capital Award for literature. This award will support the development of her forthcoming book of essays, "Kin." Victor is affiliated with the MSU Department of English and leads the Creative Writing Program.
Creative Capital has allocated $2.45 million in project grants to 55 artists, including Victor, to foster new works across various disciplines such as visual arts, film and moving image, technology, performing arts, and literature. Each recipient can receive up to $50,000 per project from over 5,600 applicants nationwide.
Victor is among five recipients awarded for literature in 2025. Past recipients include authors like Paul Beatty for “The Sellout,” Ben Marcus for “The Flame Alphabet,” and Legacy Russell for “Black Meme: A History of the Images That Make Us.”
“This is a profound moment to invest in the powerful imaginations of artists,” stated Angela Mattox, director of artist initiatives at Creative Capital. “These 55 visionary artist proposals are boldly pushing form and ideas forward.”
Victor’s project "Kin" aims to be a collection of essays examining how South Asian American culture impacts national identity in the United States. The book is scheduled for publication in 2027 by Graywolf Press.
"Kin" follows Victor's previous work "CURB," which addressed immigrant grief post-9/11 amid anti-Asian sentiments in America. "CURB" was recognized with the PEN Open Book Award and Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award in 2022.
“We’re at a cultural moment in the United States where it’s really important for immigrant life...to be seen not only through the lens of trauma," Victor expressed.
The essays will integrate elements from Victor’s Tamil-Indian upbringing and her grandmother’s experiences while highlighting South Asian American contributions across various art forms.
“I’m trying to honor a kind of unacknowledged expertise that girls have about living on this planet," she noted.
Victor intends "Kin" to forge connections within and beyond the South Asian American diaspora. She plans to utilize her award funds for research travel and writing time, exploring archives related to notable figures such as Anandabai Joshee and Mary Kudke—early Indian medical graduates—and immigration advocate Kala Bagai.
Her research will also delve into materials associated with Hungarian American photographer Balthazar Korab and Bangladeshi American architect Fazlur Rahman Khan known for his work on iconic Chicago skyscrapers.
Through "Kin," Victor seeks to highlight shared experiences among Americans while particularly resonating with the South Asian American community.
“The hope in a writer’s life is that they’re always providing a fuller...picture of the lives they know,” she said.
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