Elizabeth Diller is the only architect named on Time magazine's list of 100 most influential people of 2018, with philanthropist Eli Broad calling her a "visionary".

Diller, who founded New York-based firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro with partner Ricardo Scofidio, has been named on the Time list for the second time.

"She imagines things the rest of us have to see to believe. She can turn a metaphor into brick and mortar," wrote Broad in the citation alongside the listing.

"Maybe it's because she's a woman in a male-dominated field, or because she was originally a conceptual artist – along with her partner in art, architecture and life, Ric Scofidio – but whatever the reason, Liz sees opportunities where others see challenges. She can do the impossible," continued Broad.

The Broad art museum in Los Angeles, which was completed in 2015 is among the architect's most high-profile projects.

In the citation, Broad commends the "veil and vault" design of the photogenic museum's honeycomb exterior and cavernous lobby, which suits its setting across from Frank Gehry's well-known Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Diller, 63, and Scofidio, were jointly named in Time Magazine's famed list in 2009 – the same year that the firm completed the first phase of the popular High Line park in New York.

Now listed solely, Diller is the only architect featured in this year's Time 100 – an annual ranking of the people the US magazine judges to be the most influential in America. British architect David Adjaye was the sole architect on the list last year, with BIG founder Bjarke Ingels featured in 2016.

Diller is listed within the "titans" category alongside billionaire founder of electric car brand Tesla Elon Musk, broadcaster Oprah Winfrey and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.

Founded in 1981, Diller Scofidio + Renfro is behind a number of important buildings in the US, like the Berkeley Art Museum and the Pacific Film Archive and an art department building for Stanford University.

The firm placed at number 156 in 2017 Dezeen Hot List and is run by four partners, including Diller, Scofidio, Charles Renfro and Benjamin Gilmartin. It is currently working on the major expansion MoMA, with the first phase of the overhaul opening last year and an expandable cultural venue at Manhattan's Hudson Yards called The Shed.

Diller highlighted the project in an exclusive interview with Dezeen, where she said architects should be more proactive in driving forward development proposals.

Top image of The Broad is by Edmon Leong.