Artist Kara Walker -- "who for two decades has been fearlessly confronting attitudes toward race, women and sexuality" with work that has been displayed all over the world -- was named WSJ Magazine's Art Innovator of the Year. 

WSJ Magazine's Innovator Awards, honoring visionaries in architecture, art, entrepreneurship, fashion, food, performing arts and technology, received their awards Wednesday night at an elaborate event held at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.​​

In her WSJ interview, which is available online and on newsstands Nov. 9, ​Walker talks about the overwhelming response to her first massive sculpture at New York's Domino Sugar Factory (and the follow-up project she's working on), her wide-range use of media, and dealing with critics.

Walker's recent Subtlety, or the Marvelous Sugar Baby, the highly-symbolic 75-foot-long sugar-made sphinx sensation that drew some 130,000 people, including celebs such as Beyonce and Jay-Z, sparked all kinds of conversation--from outrage over slave trade to debates on obesity. It was the kind of thought-provoking work that has defined Walker's 20-year career, and spurred controversy.

"I figured people would come because it was free. But I don’t think you can anticipate tens of thousands, or all the celebrities,” Walker said of the sugar sphinx sculpture. And when it was up, “I didn't quite know what to do with myself.”