The USD 25,000 Robert De Niro Sr Prize is presented to a mid-career American artist in the field of painting.
It was announced yesterday by actor Robert De Niro, who created the prize in 2011 to honor his father, a celebrated abstract expressionist painter.
He says Owens is creating her own legacy through her artwork.
Owens is known for her very large paintings with a variety of art historical references.
In 2003, she became the youngest artist to have a retrospective at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles. She teaches at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California.