The pop star, 29, was presented with the Young Artist Award in recognition for her contribution to the art world during the annual gala for Americans for the Arts in her native New York City.
She was introduced to the stage by her friend and art mentor Klaus Biesenbach, who serves as a curator for the Museum of Modern Art, and he praised the singer for being a "true artist" and "role model" for the countless number of fans she has "touched, inspired, empowered and encouraged".
"Thank you so much to all of you for honouring me today, because I don't think there is a single award that means more to me than this one," she told the gala attendees.
"My name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta," she continued.
"I am an Italian-American... I, over time, read so many books, watched so many movies, did so much art, met so many sculptors, filmmakers, poets, musicians, sidewalk artists that I invented something that was much stronger than I ever could have been on my own. And that is what, for me, is what (sic) I see between my fans and what I hope to achieve together...