The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia and the Sobey Art Foundation happily announced the long list for the 2012 Sobey Art Award, the pre-eminent award for contemporary Canadian art. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the award, which gives $70,000 in prize money to artists ($50,000 to the winner and $5,000 to the other four finalists). After a three-month review process for nominations, the curatorial panel has narrowed the long list down to 25 artists.
They are:
From the Atlantic
• Mark Igloliorte
• Stephen Kelly
• Eleanor King
• Lisa Lipton
• Graeme Patterson
…and already I am chomping at the bit to see this exhibition. Will there be singing? There should be.
From the West Coast and the Yukon
• Sonny Assu
• Julia Feyrer
• Gareth Moore
• Kevin Schmidt
• Corin Sworn
From the Prairies and the North
• Amalie Atkins
• Paul Butler
• Jason de Haan
• Robyn Moody
• Elaine Stocki
From Ontario
• Broken City Lab
• Aleesa Cohene
• Annie MacDonell
• Nicholas Pye & Sheila Pye
• Derek Sullivan
From Quebec
• Olivia Boudreau
• Raphaëlle de Groot
• Julie Favreau
• Nadia Myre
• Ève K. Tremblay
“There is much to celebrate on this 10th anniversary long-list. Since its inception, the Sobey Art Award has contributed to the public profile, career direction and commercial success of its long listed, short listed and winning artists. This year’s list of bold and dynamic young artists directly speaks to the incredible new developments in contemporary Canadian art,” said Sarah Fillmore Chief Curator, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia and Curator, Sobey Art Award.
The shortlist will be announced in late June. An exhibition running from October 24-December 30 at the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA) in Toronto will feature select work by the shortlisted artists. The 10th Anniversary Sobey Art Award winner’s announcement will take place at a Gala event at the MOCCA on November 16.
This article appears in Apr 19-25, 2012.
