Brookline sculptor Janet Echelman was named a 2016 USA Fellow on Wednesday by United States Artists, a Chicago-based nonprofit that aims to cultivate creative work across the nation. Each of this year’s 46 fellows, who specialize in various performance, visual, and written art forms, was selected by experts in their respective discipline to receive an unrestricted cash award of $50,000. Echelman, chosen for the Architecture & Design category, uses mundane materials like fishnet to create inventive, massive sculptures that change along with the sunlight and wind. The 600-foot “As If It Were Already Here’’ sculpture that floated over the Rose Kennedy Greenway for much of 2015 is a notable example, but her work has colorfully transformed airspace in cities such as Vancouver and Porto, Portugal, as well. The 2016 fellowship marks the 10th anniversary of United States Artists, which has awarded almost $25 million worth of awards since its inception. A few past recipients include director Barry Jenkins (“Moonlight’’), novelist Annie Proulx (“Barkskins,’’ “Brokeback Mountain’’), and visual artist Kara Walker.

Sonia Rao can be reached at sonia.rao@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @misssoniarao.